noun
ire
EYE-ur/ˈaɪər/
Strong anger.
The man’s clenched fists and furious expression show his ire.
Etymology
Latin ira covered anger, wrath, rage, and passion. Ire keeps the angry end of that range, naming an intense feeling of wrath.
In context
Louis emerged as Europe’s most powerful monarch, and his aggressive foreign policies gained the ire of his contemporary rulers
More examples
- He tried not to provoke her ire.
- The proposal drew the ire of local residents.
- Their careless reply only increased his ire.
Forms
ire
Similar words
- anger
- Anger is the everyday term; ire is more formal and often suggests strong indignation.
- wrath
- Wrath also means intense anger and has a similarly elevated tone.