English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

adj

seething

SEE-thihng

Seething (adj) means Extremely angry, though the anger may not be openly shown. Example: “She sat in seething silence after the meeting.”

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adj

1

Extremely angry, though the anger may not be openly shown.

"She sat in seething silence after the meeting."

"He was seething with rage but kept his voice calm."

2

Bubbling or churning violently, as if about to boil over.

"The seething rapids made the crossing impossible."

"Steam rose from the seething mass of molten rock."

How to use seething

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBoiling with intense feeling — usually anger — or literally bubbling and churning.

Common pairings

seething with anger seething rage seething mass

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

seethings plural

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Etymology

From Middle English sethyng, from the verb seethe ("to boil") plus -ing.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for seething

teething something

See all rhymes for seething →

Frequently asked questions

What does “seething” mean?

The word “seething” means extremely angry, though the anger may not be openly shown. In plain terms, boiling with intense feeling — usually anger — or literally bubbling and churning.

How do you pronounce “seething”?

“Seething” is pronounced SEE-thihng (/ˈsiː.ðɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “seething” in a sentence?

Here is “seething” used in a sentence: “She sat in seething silence after the meeting.”

What part of speech is “seething”?

“Seething” is an adjective.

Where does the word “seething” come from?

The word “seething” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sethyng, from the verb seethe ("to boil") plus -ing.

How many meanings does “seething” have?

“Seething” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely angry, though the anger may not be openly shown.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial