ire
8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for ire, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Intense anger; wrath, especially the kind provoked by a specific offense.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use ire
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
draw someone's ire
incur ire
public ire
Mostly used in writing and news reporting ("drew the ire of") rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
From Old English īre, ultimately a shortened form of īren ("iron") in an earlier sense; the modern "anger" sense comes via Latin īra through French.
Full origin of ire →Frequently asked questions
What does “ire” mean?
The word “ire” means intense anger; wrath, especially the kind provoked by a specific offense. In plain terms, a formal, slightly literary word for anger or wrath.
How do you pronounce “ire”?
“Ire” is pronounced eye-uh (/aɪ.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ire” in a sentence?
Here is “ire” used in a sentence: “The tax hike drew the ire of small business owners.”
What part of speech is “ire”?
“Ire” is a noun.
Where does the word “ire” come from?
The word “ire” comes from Latin. From Old English īre, ultimately a shortened form of īren ("iron") in an earlier sense; the modern "anger" sense comes via Latin īra through French.
Is “ire” a common word?
“Ire” is an uncommon word in modern English.
