WordGarden.ioangrily
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈæŋɡrɪli/
US
- /ˈæŋɡrəli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a way that shows anger
Beyond the definition
Imagine a little kitten batting at a dangling toy—playful, right? Now imagine that same kitten's tail puffed up, fur bristling, and it swats at the toy. That's the difference between simply acting and acting angrily. To do something angrily means to do it while filled with anger, irritation, or intense displeasure. A dog might bark happily when its owner comes home, but it barks angrily at a stranger approaching. People don't just slam doors; they slam them angrily. It describes how an action is performed, colored by strong negative emotion. Think of it as adding a fiery red hue to any verb!
"Angrily" is an adverb that tells us how something is done—specifically, with anger. But anger isn't always the same. Sometimes it is a simmering frustration; other times, a volcanic eruption. "Angrily" can capture both ends of that spectrum, from controlled irritation to an obvious, forceful expression of displeasure.
You might see someone stomp angrily away from an argument or hear a character in a story shout angrily at their opponent. It's not just about the action itself (stomping, shouting), but the emotional intensity behind it. Even a quiet action can be performed angrily—like staring angrily across a room—though the word often suggests a more outward display.
The context matters, too. A child might angrily refuse to eat vegetables, while a politician might angrily denounce an opponent's policies. The scale of the anger changes with the situation, but "angrily" always points to that core emotion driving the action.
It's important to note that "angrily" isn't limited to physical outbursts. Someone can think angrily or react angrily on the inside, even if they don't show it. It describes the emotional state informing the response. So, whether it's a slammed door or a silent, fuming thought, if it's driven by that fiery emotion, it's happening angrily.
Examples
- 1
Physical action
She slammed the window shut angrily.
- 2
Direct speech
"I never agreed to that," he said angrily.
- 3
Customer complaint
Several customers complained angrily about the sudden price increase.
- 4
Reaction trigger
He reacted angrily to the suggestion that he had been careless.
- Patternreact angrily to + cause
show anger because of it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Denial
The coach angrily denied that the team had given up.
- 6
Phone call
She hung up angrily before I could explain.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- speak angrily
- shout angrily
- react angrily
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- angrilyadverb