What does infuriate mean?
Infuriate is a verb meaning to make someone extremely angry. It describes an intense reaction, typically stronger than ordinary irritation: an unfair decision, an insult, or a frustrating delay may infuriate a person or crowd. The word can be used for individual feelings and for the collective anger of a group, as in a speech that infuriated supporters. Infuriated is the usual past participle, while infuriating describes something that causes this strong anger. Although the term is sometimes confused with inflict, which concerns causing damage or suffering, and inflate, which concerns enlargement, infuriate specifically focuses on provoking rage. It is useful when accuracy requires a word that conveys more than mild annoyance and captures a dramatic or particularly intense reaction.
verbTo make someone extremely angry. It describes a stronger and more intense reaction than ordinary annoyance or irritation.
- To make someone extremely angry.
"The referee's decision infuriated the players and nearly caused a fight."
"The decision to cancel the concert infuriated thousands of fans."
"She was infuriated by the delay and demanded an immediate explanation."
Infuriate comes from the same Latin root as fury: to be infuriated is to be swept up in a storm of rage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infuriate come from?
The word comes from Latin infuriare, “to enrage,” formed from furia, meaning “fury” or “rage,” together with an infixing -n- associated with enfurere. Its English form is based on the Latin past participle infuriatus, “enraged.” The same root produced furious, fury, and furore, all of which reflect the idea of violent or overwhelming anger.
Related word forms
How infuriate is actually used
Infuriate is stronger and more emphatic than anger or annoy. It is often used when a person is very angry, especially in formal reporting or emotionally charged situations.
Easily confused with infuriate
Infuriate means to make someone extremely angry, whereas inflict means to impose suffering, damage, or a penalty.
Infuriate means to provoke anger, whereas inflate means to enlarge something or make it seem more important.