ANGRY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

Table of Contents

angry angry in British English angry in American English angry in American English

COBUILD frequency band

angry

(æŋgri )

Word forms: comparative angrier , superlative angriest

1.adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE] A2

When you are angry, you feel strong dislike or impatience about something.

She had been very angry at the person who stole her new bike. [+ at]

Are you angry with me for some reason? [+ with]

I was angry about the rumours. [+ about]

He's angry that people have called him a racist.

An angry mob gathered outside the courthouse.

angrily (æŋgrɪli ) adverb [ADVERB with verb] B1+

Officials reacted angrily to those charges.

Health workers are angrily demanding higher pay.

2.graded adjective

An angry wound or rash is red and painful.

He was badly concussed, the glass leaving two angry cuts across his forehead.

Synonyms: inflamed, severe, painful, nasty More Synonyms of angry

3.graded adjective

If you describe the sky or sea as angry, you mean that it is dark and stormy.

[literary]

Under the angry red sky he ran, into the thickening darkness.

Synonyms: threatening, forbidding, grim, menacing More Synonyms of angry

More Synonyms of angry

British English pronunciation

It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.

To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.

American English pronunciation

It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.

To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.

angry in British English

(ˈæŋɡrɪ )

adjectiveWord forms: -grier, -griest

feeling or expressing annoyance, animosity, or resentment; enraged

suggestive of anger

angry clouds

severely inflamed

an angry sore

▶USAGE It was formerly considered incorrect to talk about being angry at a person, but this use is now acceptable

Derived forms

angrily (ˈangrily)

adverb

COBUILD frequency band

angry in American English

(ˈæŋgri )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈangrier or ˈangriest

feeling, showing, or resulting from anger

an angry reply

wild and stormy, as if angry

an angry sea

inflamed and sore

an angry wound

Derived forms

angrily (ˈangrily) (ˈæŋgrəli )

adverb

angriness (ˈangriness) (ˈæŋgrinɪs )

noun

Word origin

ME angri, troubled < anger

COBUILD frequency band

angry in American English

(ˈæŋɡri)

adjectiveWord forms: -grier, -griest

1.(usually fol. by at, with, or about)

feeling or showing anger or strong resentment

to be angry at the dean

to be angry about the snub

expressing, caused by, or characterized by anger; wrathful

angry words

3.(chiefly in New England and Midland US dialect)

inflamed, as a sore; exhibiting inflammation

4.(of an object or phenomenon)

exhibiting a characteristic or creating a mood associated with anger or danger, as by color, sound, force, etc

an angry sea

the boom of angry guns

SYNONYMS 1. irate, incensed, enraged, infuriated, furious, mad; provoked, irritated.ANTONYMS 1. calm.

Derived forms

angrily

adverb

angriness

noun

Word origin

[1275–1325; ME. See anger, -y1]