enrage
B2Formal or literary. More common in written contexts than casual speech.
Definition
Meaning
To make someone very angry; to fill with rage.
To provoke a state of intense, often uncontrollable fury, typically through perceived injustice, insult, or cruelty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a cause that provokes extreme anger. It's a transitive verb requiring a direct object (someone/something is enraged). The emotion described is stronger than 'annoy' or 'irritate'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Equally strong in both variants. Can imply a loss of self-control.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American journalistic or political writing, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] enraged [NP] (e.g., The decision enraged the public.)be enraged by [NP] (e.g., She was enraged by his indifference.)be enraged at [NP/V-ing] (e.g., He was enraged at the constant delays.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like a red rag to a bull (something that is certain to enrage).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in reports about stakeholder reactions (e.g., 'The new policy enraged shareholders.').
Academic
Used in political science, history, or sociology to describe public or group reactions to events.
Everyday
Used for strong personal reactions to serious annoyances or perceived wrongs.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The referee's dubious decision enraged the home supporters.
- His plan to sell the historic building enraged local conservationists.
American English
- The leaked memo enraged employees across the company.
- Voters were enraged by the candidate's dishonest ads.
adverb
British English
- He stared enragedly at the broken window. (Very rare, literary)
American English
- She spoke enragedly about the injustice. (Very rare, literary)
adjective
British English
- The enraged protester shouted at the minister.
- She sent an enraged email to customer service.
American English
- An enraded mob gathered outside the courthouse.
- He had an enraged look in his eyes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The loud noise enraged the dog.
- Lost luggage can enrage travellers.
- His rude comments enraged everyone at the meeting.
- The unfair rules enraged the students.
- The government's decision to cut pensions enraged senior citizens.
- She was enraged by the lack of progress on the issue.
- The editorial was calculated to enrage the political opposition and generate controversy.
- His meticulously researched exposé enraged the industry giants, who immediately threatened legal action.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ENRAGE as putting someone IN RAGE. The prefix 'en-' means 'to cause to be' (like 'enslave'), so it means 'to cause to be in a rage.'
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS HEAT/A PRESSURE COOKER (e.g., 'The comments made him boil over.'). ENRAGE is the act of turning up the heat.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'outrage' (which is a noun/verb for an offensive act or the feeling it causes). 'Enrage' is specifically the act of making someone furious.
- The Russian 'разъярить' is a very close equivalent in strength.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'He enraged.' – Incorrect).
- Confusing the adjective 'enraged' with 'enraging' (present participle/gerund).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely synonym for 'enrage' in a formal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is understood but is more common in writing, news reports, or formal descriptions of strong emotions. In casual speech, people often say "made me really angry" or "pissed me off" (slang).
They are very close synonyms and often interchangeable. 'Infuriate' might slightly emphasise the internal feeling of fury, while 'enrage' emphasises the external cause. The difference is extremely subtle.
No. 'Enrage' denotes an extreme level of anger. For mild irritation, use words like 'annoy', 'irk', or 'bother'.
Yes, in many contexts. You often see "enraged citizens" or "was enraged by..." more frequently than the active "X enraged Y," though both are correct.