noun
Uncommon
ire
eye-uh
Ire (noun) means Intense anger; wrath, especially the kind provoked by a specific offense. Example: “The tax hike drew the ire of small business owners.”
noun
1
Intense anger; wrath, especially the kind provoked by a specific offense.
"The tax hike drew the ire of small business owners."
"He tried not to show his ire during the meeting."
How to use ire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, slightly literary word for anger or wrath.
When to use it
Mostly used in writing and news reporting ("drew the ire of") rather than everyday speech.
Common pairings
draw someone's ire
incur ire
public ire
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- ires
- Past tense
- ired
Fill the gap
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The tax hike drew the _____ of small business owners.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ire
See all rhymes for 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.
