furious

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Extremely angry, so much that the person finds it hard to stay calm.

   Grammar: Often followed by with or at: furious with her brother.

   Patterns

   • furious with someone
   • furious at something
   • furious that something

   She was furious with him for forgetting her birthday.

   The customer was furious at the long delay.

   He was furious that nobody had told him.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Showing great energy, speed or force, as in a storm or a fight.

   Grammar: Usually before a noun: a furious pace.

   Patterns

   • a furious pace
   • a furious battle

   The two teams played at a furious pace.

   A furious storm battered the coast.

   They worked at a furious speed to meet the deadline.

Word forms

Common combinations

absolutely furious

She was absolutely furious about the mistake.

furious with someone

He was furious with his teammate.

furious argument

They had a furious argument over money.

furious pace

The writer worked at a furious pace.

furious reaction

The decision drew a furious reaction.

furious about

Fans were furious about the cancellation.

Synonyms and how they differ

angry

Angry is the everyday word, while furious is much stronger and implies near loss of control.

livid

Livid suggests rage so strong it may show in the face, and is slightly more colloquial.

enraged

Enraged stresses being made angry by something, typically a sudden cause.

irate

Irate is more formal and often describes an angry customer or official.

Opposites

Word family

fury noun

violent anger

furiously adverb

in an angry or intense way

infuriate verb

to make someone extremely angry

infuriating adjective

causing great anger

Commonly confused: furious or fury? furious or angry?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “furious”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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