anger
anger
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "anger" is /ˈæŋ.ɡər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
First syllable: /æŋ/
/æ/ - The vowel sound in "cat" or "trap". It's a low, front, unrounded vowel.
/ŋ/ - The "ng" sound as in "sing" or "ring". It's a velar nasal consonant.
Second syllable: /ɡər/
/ɡ/ - The hard "g" sound as in "go" or "get". It's a voiced velar plosive.
/ər/ - The "er" sound as in "hurt" or "nurse" (in non-rhotic accents, this may be just /ə/, a schwa sound). It's a mid-central, rhotic (in some accents) vowel.
Word Form Variations
anger (noun): This is the base form, referring to the emotion itself. As mentioned, it's generally uncountable.
angry (adjective): Describes someone experiencing anger.
angrily (adverb): Describes how something is done in an angry way.
angrier (comparative adjective): Used to compare levels of anger.
angriest (superlative adjective): Used to indicate the highest level of anger.
angst (noun): While not a direct variation, it's a related word referring to a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, often connected to anger.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun (anger)
Definition: A strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. It's a basic human emotion characterized by physiological changes like increased heart rate and adrenaline, often triggered by perceived injustice, threat, or frustration.
Synonyms: rage, fury, wrath, indignation, resentment, ire, vexation, annoyance, irritation, displeasure
Antonyms: calm, peace, serenity, happiness, joy, contentment, love, compassion
Verb (to anger - less common, often expressed as "to make someone angry")
Definition: To provoke or arouse feelings of anger in someone. This is less frequently used as a direct verb than the other forms. It's more common to say "to make someone angry."
Synonyms: enrage, infuriate, incense, provoke, irritate, exasperate, aggravate, vex, annoy
Antonyms: appease, placate, soothe, calm, comfort, delight, please
Adjective (angry)
Definition: Feeling or expressing anger; showing or characterized by anger.
Synonyms: furious, enraged, irate, incensed, indignant, resentful, annoyed, irritated, vexed
Antonyms: calm, peaceful, serene, happy, joyful, content, loving, compassionate
Adverb (angrily)
Definition: In an angry manner; with anger.
Synonyms: furiously, enragedly, irately, indignantly, resentfully, annoyedly, irritably, vexedly
Antonyms: calmly, peacefully, serenely, happily, joyfully, contentedly, lovingly, compassionately
Examples of Use
Noun (anger):
Book: "The book explores the roots of human anger and offers strategies for managing it constructively." (This is a hypothetical example, but representative of how the word might be used in a self-help or psychology book.)
Newspaper: "Public anger over the proposed tax increase led to widespread protests." (News article about social unrest, a very common context for "anger.")
Online Publication: "The comments section quickly devolved into a display of online anger and personal attacks." (Discussing online behavior, where anger is frequently observed.)
General Public Discourse: "I felt a surge of anger when I realized I had been cheated." (Everyday conversation about personal experiences.)
Verb (to anger - less common):
Online Publication: "The politician's insensitive remarks angered many voters." (This is a more common phrasing than using "anger" as a direct verb on its own. Variations like "made angry" are more frequent.)
Hypothetical Example: "His constant interruptions finally served to anger her." (Again, less common than the other forms, but grammatically correct.)
Adjective (angry):
Book: "He stormed out of the room, an angry look on his face." (Fictional narrative describing a character's emotional state.)
Movie: "The angry mob demanded justice." (Dialogue or narration in a film depicting social unrest.)
General Public Discourse: "I was so angry I could barely speak." (Everyday conversation.)
Social Media: "Fans were angry about the changes to the game." (Common use in online discussions and reviews.)
Adverb (angrily):
Book: "She slammed the door angrily behind her." (Fictional narrative describing an action performed in anger.)
News Report (transcript or quote): "He responded angrily to the reporter's question, accusing them of bias." (Reporting on a press conference or interview.)
General Public Discourse: "He shook his head angrily and walked away." (Describing someone's behavior.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Anger
"Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way – that is not easy." (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics)
"The best answer to anger is silence." (Seneca the Younger)
"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." (Mark Twain)
"For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." (Buddha)
"Anger and intolerance are two of the main ingredients of hatred." (Dalai Lama)
"When you are angry, be silent." (George Herbert)
"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." (Ambrose Bierce)
"Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one." (Benjamin Franklin)
"A man who cannot control his temper is like a city without walls." (Proverbs 25:28)
Etymology
Let's break down the etymology of "anger." It's a journey through language that shows how words evolve over time.
"Anger" comes from the Old Norse word "angr," which meant "grief, sorrow, or vexation." Think of it as a feeling of being troubled or distressed. This Old Norse word is related to other words in Germanic languages, like the Old English "æng" (narrow, constricted) which gives us a clue to the physical sensation of anger, like a tightening or constriction.
The first known use of "anger" in English (around the 13th century) kept this basic meaning of a strong feeling of displeasure or antagonism. It wasn't quite as focused on the explosive rage we might think of today. It encompassed a broader sense of upset and negative emotion.
So, imagine this: Our ancestors felt a pang of "angr" (grief/sorrow). This feeling, this "constriction" (æng), eventually became "anger" in English. Over time, the specific nuance shifted, and "anger" became more closely associated with the fiery, outward expression of that initial distress. It narrowed its meaning to primarily focus on the feeling of hot displeasure, though the underlying sense of being troubled or vexed is still there.
In short, "anger" originally meant something closer to grief or distress and gradually evolved to primarily mean the strong feeling of displeasure or hostility we understand today. It's a word that traces back to feelings of being constricted or troubled, and it's related to words for those feelings in other Germanic languages.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Anger
Directly using "anger":
"In a fit of anger": Describes doing something impulsively while extremely angry.
"To vent one's anger": To release pent-up anger, often verbally.
"The heat of anger": Refers to the intense emotional state of being angry.
"Anger management": Techniques for controlling and dealing with anger constructively.
Using synonyms or related concepts:
"To fly off the handle": To suddenly lose one's temper (related to anger's impulsiveness).
"To see red": To become extremely angry (a physical manifestation of anger).
"To be boiling mad": To be very angry (another physical metaphor).
"To blow a fuse": To lose one's temper (similar to "flying off the handle").
"To be up in arms": To be angry and protesting about something (implies collective anger).
"To have a chip on one's shoulder": To be habitually angry or resentful, often due to a past grievance.
"To be mad as a hornet": To be extremely angry and aggressive.
"To give someone a piece of your mind": To express one's anger or disapproval forcefully.
Lesser-known or original phrases:
"To simmer with anger": To feel anger building up slowly and internally.
"A cold anger": A controlled, quiet, but intense anger.
"To wear one's anger on one's sleeve": To openly display one's anger.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of anger from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
