wrath

Very strong anger, often directed at someone who has done something wrong.

• Nobody wanted to face her wrath.
• His careless words brought down the king’s wrath upon him.
• The children hid the broken vase to avoid their mother’s wrath.

How to use it: wrath of someone (He feared the wrath of his father.)

Similar words: anger, fury, rage

Common phrases: incur someone’s wrath, face someone’s wrath, divine wrath

Punishment or revenge given because of great anger.

• They prayed to escape divine wrath.
• The tale ends with the villagers suffering the king’s wrath.
• The priest described the storm as the wrath of God.

How to use it: wrath of someone (The preacher warned them about the wrath of God.)

Similar words: retribution, vengeance

Opposites: mercy

Common phrases: the wrath of God, suffer someone’s wrath, escape someone’s wrath