anger
B1Neutral to formal. Common in both spoken and written English across registers.
Definition
Meaning
A strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility, often caused by a perceived wrong or injustice.
As a noun: the emotional state itself; as a verb: to cause someone to feel this emotion. In psychology, a basic emotion with varying intensity and expression.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Unlike 'rage' or 'fury', 'anger' is a broader, more neutral term for the emotion, not inherently implying loss of control. It can be a sustained state or a temporary reaction. It often implies a cause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences. The verb 'to anger' is slightly more formal/literary in both varieties. Spelling identical.
Connotations
Largely identical. In both, 'anger' is the standard, unmarked term for the emotion.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Noun: He felt anger at the decision.Verb (transitive): The comment angered her.Adjective + noun: simmering anger, justifiable angerPrepositional: anger towards/at/about someone/somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “More heat than light (discussion driven by anger)”
- “A flash of anger”
- “To vent one's anger”
- “To be quick to anger”
- “To make one's blood boil (cause great anger)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used cautiously; often framed as 'customer anger' or 'employee frustration'. 'Displeasure' may be preferred in formal reports.
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and literary studies. Used precisely to describe an emotional state or thematic element.
Everyday
Very common: 'I was so angry!' 'He has a lot of anger about it.'
Technical
In psychology: a defined emotional and physiological response. In law: can be an element in crimes of passion or mitigation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government's inaction angered many voters.
- He was clearly angered by the accusation.
American English
- Her insensitive remarks really angered the crowd.
- The policy angered environmental groups.
adverb
British English
- 'Never!' he said angrily.
- She stared angrily out of the window.
American English
- He reacted angrily to the news.
- She spoke angrily about the budget cuts.
adjective
British English
- He gave her an angry look.
- The protestors were an angry mob.
American English
- She wrote an angry letter to the editor.
- He has a right to be angry.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child cried in anger.
- I feel anger when people are not fair.
- He has a lot of anger.
- Her face was red with anger.
- The decision caused widespread public anger.
- He tried to control his anger.
- Beneath his calm exterior, a deep well of anger simmered.
- The article provoked anger from both sides of the political divide.
- She channelled her anger into her campaign for reform.
- His anger was not a fleeting irritation but a profound, righteous indignation at the systemic injustice.
- The therapist helped him unpack the sources of his repressed anger.
- The novel explores the corrosive effects of long-held anger on the human psyche.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ANGER sounds like 'DANGER' - it's an emotion that can lead to dangerous situations if not controlled.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS A HOT FLUID IN A CONTAINER (e.g., 'boiling with anger', 'seething', 'bottled-up anger'). ANGER IS FIRE (e.g., 'inflamed', 'ignited her anger', 'smouldering look').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'angry' (adjective) - Russian often uses the same root ('злость/злой') for both noun and adjective.
- The verb 'to anger' is less common than 'to make angry'. 'His behaviour angers me' is correct but more formal than 'His behaviour makes me angry'.
- Avoid calquing 'to be in anger' (быть в злости). Use 'to be angry' or 'to feel anger'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'anger' as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'He has many angers' -> 'He has a lot of anger' or 'He is angry about many things').
- Confusing 'anger' (emotion) with 'rage' (uncontrolled, violent anger).
- Overusing the verb form in casual speech where 'make someone angry' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common conceptual metaphor for anger?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable. You don't say 'an anger' or 'angers'. You can have 'a feeling of anger' or talk about 'types of anger' in specialized contexts.
'Anger' is the general, neutral term. 'Rage' implies intense, often violent and uncontrollable anger, bordering on temporary insanity.
It is correct and understood but is more formal/literary than the phrasal 'make someone angry'. In everyday speech, 'It made me angry' is more frequent than 'It angered me'.
Yes, in contexts like 'righteous anger'—anger at injustice which can motivate positive action. However, it is most commonly perceived as a negative emotion.