WordGarden.iowroth
C2Pronunciation
UK
US
Meanings
Adjective
very angry
Beyond the definition
To be wroth is to feel more than a brief flash of annoyance. It is deep, powerful anger, often caused by something serious or unjust. Picture an ancient king, wroth at a betrayal, ready to punish those who crossed him. The word suggests a strong, old-fashioned kind of fury. You would not usually be wroth about a cold cup of coffee, but you might be wroth if a sacred trust were broken. The term carries a weight and formality that most modern words for anger do not.
Because it is mostly found in older writing, such as the Bible, epic poetry, or historical stories, it gives a sentence a dramatic and serious tone. If a dragon breathes fire because its treasure has been stolen, it is likely wroth. It is a word of legends and high-stakes conflict.
The word wroth describes a state of intense anger or indignation, but it carries a very specific flavor. It is not simply being "mad"; it suggests a deep-seated, often righteous rage fueled by a perceived injustice or a grave offense. While "angry" is a general term, wroth implies a more profound and potentially dangerous level of displeasure. It is almost always used as a predicative adjective (for example, "he was wroth") rather than directly before a noun.
The origins of wroth lie in Old English, and the word is closely related to wrath. That connection helps explain its old and solemn feel. It is most often used to describe the emotions of characters in myths, sagas, religious texts, and historical dramas, especially figures whose anger can bring serious consequences.
For instance, one might read that a deity is wroth with humanity for its hubris, or a legendary warrior is wroth at a companion's treachery. It is rarely used to describe modern, petty frustrations; you would not say you were wroth about a traffic jam. Instead, it suggests an anger that demands attention and, quite often, retribution. While less common in daily speech today, wroth remains a potent word for conveying extreme anger with a touch of old-world gravitas. When a person is truly wroth, they are not just upset; they are a storm waiting to break.
Examples
- 1
Royal anger
The king grew wroth when he heard that the messenger had lied.
- Usage
wroth is mostly literary or old-fashioned
- 2
Personal anger
She was wroth with her son for speaking so rudely to the guests.
- Patternwroth with + person / wroth at + thing
angry with someone or about something
- 3
Mythic anger
In the legend, the goddess became wroth at the broken promise.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- wrothadjective