7 Better Ways to Say “Very Angry”

Whenever possible, you should use descriptive terms instead of very and a common adjective.

Here are seven better ways to say “very angry,” along with collocations and examples.

furious (adj.)

We use furious to mean “extremely angry” or “full of anger or energy; violent or intense.” (Oxford Dictionaries)

Some collocations with furious are to be furious, to look furious, to sound furious, to become furious, to make someone furious; absolutely furious; furious at (someone), furious with (someone), furious about (something), and furious over (something).

“Kurt’s wife was furious with him after he lost $1,200 in Las Vegas.”

“San Francisco residents are furious about expensive rent prices.”

livid (adj.)

We use livid to communicate that someone is furiously angry. (Oxford Dictionaries)

Some collocations with livid are to become livid, to make someone livid, and absolutely livid.

“My son borrowed my car without asking and crashed into a parked car. I was absolutely livid.”

enraged (adj.)

We use enraged to communicate that someone is extremely angry.

Some collocations with enraged are to be enraged, to become enraged, to feel enraged, extremely enraged, and violently enraged.

“After the attacks, the public was enraged and supported military intervention.”

fuming (v.)

We use fuming to communicate that someone is feeling, showing, or expressing great anger. (Oxford Dictionaries)

Some collocations with fuming are fuming mad, fuming with anger, is fuming about (something), and is fuming at (something).

“I can’t talk to Jessica right now. She’s still fuming about not being invited to my wedding.”

irate (adj.)

We use irate to communicate that someone or something is feeling or characterized by great anger. (Oxford Dictionaries)

Some collocations with irate are  to become irate, to seem irate, and irate customer.

“The worst part about working in customer service is dealing with irate customers.”

beside oneself (idiom)

We use beside oneself to communicate that someone is overcome with worry, grief, or anger. (Oxford Dictionaries)

Some collocations with beside oneself are beside oneself with joy, beside oneself with anger, beside oneself with rage, and beside oneself with grief. Note that we can use this idiom with other emotions, not just anger.

“I was beside myself when I found out my employees were stealing from me.”

to be up in arms (idiom)

We use to be up in arms to communicate that someone is outraged and very angry.

One collocation with to be up in arms is to be up in arms about (something).

“Animal rights activists are up in arms about the conditions on factory farms.”

 

All seven of these terms are better choices than very angry. Using these terms will help you communicate with precision and sound more like a native speaker.

For more better ways to say overused terms, see these articles on synonyms.

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