What does seethe mean?
To seethe is to boil or bubble forcefully, often with a rumbling or hissing sound. The verb can describe a liquid being heated in a pan, or a container whose contents are boiling vigorously: the sauce seethed as it reduced. Its figurative use is especially familiar. A person who is seething with anger is intensely upset and emotionally turbulent, though the anger may be contained rather than openly expressed. The word suggests heat, movement, and barely controlled intensity, giving it a vivid emotional force. It is therefore useful when describing both physical activity and a state of mounting agitation. In formal writing, the figurative sense can be especially effective, while in casual conversation people more often use phrases such as 'boiling with anger.'
To boil or bubble intensely, making a hissing or rumbling sound.
"The water seethed and sent clouds of steam toward the ceiling."
The literal sense is chiefly descriptive and is often used for liquid that is boiling vigorously.
To be filled with intense anger, agitation, or other strong emotion.
"The audience was seething with dissatisfaction after the announcement."
Commonly used in the idiom 'seethe with anger' or 'seethe with rage'; it implies strong, sustained emotion.
A pot can seethe over the stove, and a person can seethe with anger—the word turns quiet heat into a vivid picture of bubbling emotion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seethe come from?
The verb descends from Old English sēþan, meaning to boil or to foam, and is associated with the heated, bubbling action that gave English words such as sodden. Its modern figurative sense developed by analogy with the appearance of boiling liquid, using the image of turbulent heat to represent intense emotion.
Related word forms
How seethe is actually used
The literal sense is relatively uncommon in everyday speech but is vivid and literary. The figurative sense, especially 'seethe with anger,' is common and conveys sustained, intense emotion rather than a brief outburst.
Easily confused with seethe
To seethe is to boil or bubble intensely, whereas to sear is to cook the surface of something quickly, usually until browned.
To seethe suggests a deeper boiling or rolling movement, while to sizzle specifically describes food or liquid cooking with a sharp, usually dry, hissing sound.