Fury vs. Furious — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 27, 2024
"Fury" is a noun describing intense, often destructive anger, while "furious" is an adjective used to describe someone experiencing or characterized by fury.
Difference Between Fury and Furious
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Key Differences
"Fury" refers to a state of violent anger or the forcefulness associated with such anger. Whereas "furious" describes the intensity of the emotion or the behavior of someone or something exhibiting fury.
In literature, "fury" often symbolizes uncontrollable rage or a chaotic natural force, emphasizing the power and destructiveness of the emotion. On the other hand, "furious" can describe anything from a person's mood to the violent movements of the sea, focusing on the quality or state of being filled with fury.
Usage of "fury" can also signify divine or mythical anger in historical texts, representing a more abstract or grandiose concept. Conversely, "furious" is typically used in everyday contexts to describe extreme anger or fast, energetic actions, making it more practical and relatable.
The expression "the fury of the storm" illustrates how "fury" can personify natural events as possessing wrathful characteristics. In contrast, saying "the wind was furious" uses "furious" to attribute human-like anger to the weather, personalizing the description.
While "fury" can function as a standalone concept representing a broad and often overpowering emotional state, "furious" usually requires a subject to modify, thereby serving a more descriptive function in sentences.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective
Context Usage
Emotion or force itself
Describing quality or state
Typical Usage
"The fury of the crowd"
"He was furious at the delay"
Literary Usage
Symbolizes grand emotions
Describes intensity
Associated With
Mythical or divine anger
Everyday intense emotions
Compare with Definitions
Fury
Intense, violent anger.
The fury in his voice scared everyone in the room.
Furious
Showing the intensity of nature's elements.
The sea was furious during the storm.
Fury
Mythological reference to rage or vengeance.
In myths, the fury of the gods often resulted in calamities.
Furious
Emphasizing vehemence or intensity.
His furious denial surprised everyone.
Fury
An overwhelming emotional outburst.
She burst into a fury that left her breathless.
Furious
Extremely angry or enraged.
She was furious when she found out about the betrayal.
Fury
A forceful, destructive element.
The fury of the hurricane was unprecedented.
Furious
Characterized by extreme energy or force.
The furious pace of the project left no room for error.
Fury
A state of wild or violent chaos.
The protest turned into a fury that lasted for hours.
Furious
Describing something moving with great speed.
The car was furious as it raced down the highway.
Fury
Violent anger; rage.
Furious
Full of or characterized by extreme anger; raging.
Fury
A fit of anger
"I went into a fury and shouted in his face" (William Least Heat-Moon).
Furious
Full of intensity; energetic or fierce
The furious pace of the trading floor.
Fury
Violent or frenzied action
The storm's fury.
Furious
Feeling great anger; raging; violent.
A furious animal; parent furious at their child's behaviour
Fury
A violent disturbance or intense period of activity
"The Huns ... moved into Italy, unleashing a fury of destruction" (Arther Ferrill).
Furious
Rushing with impetuosity; moving with violence.
A furious stream; a furious wind or storm
Fury
Fury Greek & Roman Mythology Any of the spirits who pursue and torment the doers of unavenged crimes, identified with the Greek Erinyes.
Furious
Transported with passion or fury; raging; violent; as, a furious animal.
Fury
Extreme anger.
Furious
Rushing with impetuosity; moving with violence; as, a furious stream; a furious wind or storm.
Fury
Strength or violence in action.
Furious
Marked by extreme and violent energy;
A ferocious beating
Fierce fighting
A furious battle
Fury
An angry or malignant person.
Furious
Marked by extreme anger;
The enraged bull attached
Furious about the accident
A furious scowl
Infuriated onlookers charged the police who were beating the boy
Could not control the maddened crowd
Fury
(obsolete) A thief.
Furious
(of the elements) as if showing violent anger;
Angry clouds on the horizon
Furious winds
The raging sea
Fury
A thief.
Have an eye to your plate, for there be furies.
Fury
Violent or extreme excitement; overmastering agitation or enthusiasm.
Her wit began to be with a divine fury inspired.
Fury
Violent anger; extreme wrath; rage; - sometimes applied to inanimate things, as the wind or storms; impetuosity; violence.
I do oppose my patience to his fury.
Fury
Pl. (Greek Myth.) The avenging deities, Tisiphone, Alecto, and Megæra; the Erinyes or Eumenides.
The Furies, they said, are attendants on justice, and if the sun in heaven should transgress his path would punish him.
Fury
One of the Parcæ, or Fates, esp. Atropos.
Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears,And slits the thin-spun life.
Fury
A stormy, turbulent violent woman; a hag; a vixen; a virago; a termagant.
Fury
A feeling of intense anger;
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
His face turned red with rage
Fury
State of violent mental agitation
Fury
The property of being wild or turbulent;
The storm's violence
Fury
(classical mythology) the hideous snake-haired monsters (usually three in number) who pursued unpunished criminals
Common Curiosities
Can "fury" and "furious" be used interchangeably?
No, they cannot be used interchangeably as they belong to different parts of speech: "fury" is a noun and "furious" is an adjective.
What type of situations might make someone furious?
Situations involving betrayal, injustice, frustration, or significant obstacles can make someone furious.
Can weather be described as having fury?
Yes, weather phenomena like storms or hurricanes are often described as having fury due to their violent and destructive nature.
Is "furious" only used to describe people?
No, "furious" can describe anything that exhibits intensity or energy, including people, animals, weather, or inanimate objects.
Are there any synonyms for "fury" and "furious"?
Yes, synonyms for "fury" include rage, wrath, and ire, while synonyms for "furious" include enraged, angry, and livid.
What is the main difference between "fury" and "furious"?
"Fury" is a noun that refers to extreme anger itself, while "furious" is an adjective used to describe someone or something that embodies such extreme anger.
What does it mean when someone acts in a fury?
Acting in a fury means behaving with uncontrollable anger or rage.
How do authors use "fury" and "furious" to enhance their writing?
Authors use "fury" to describe scenes or emotions with intense and overpowering anger and "furious" to characterize individuals, actions, or elements within a narrative as intensely energetic or angry.
What psychological effects can fury have on a person?
Fury can lead to stress, increased heart rate, and impaired judgement, among other psychological and physical effects.
How does society view fury and furious behavior?
Generally, both are viewed negatively as they involve loss of control and potential harm to oneself and others.
Can "fury" ever be used in a positive context?
Rarely, as "fury" generally connotes negative and destructive emotions, though it could be seen positively in terms of passionate advocacy or defense in some contexts.
What is the historical use of "fury" in literature?
Historically, "fury" has been used in literature to represent divine retribution, justice, or the profound moral anger of the gods.
What does a "furious debate" imply?
A furious debate implies a highly animated, intense, and possibly contentious exchange of views.
How can understanding the difference between "fury" and "furious" improve communication?
Understanding these differences can improve clarity and precision in communication, allowing for more accurate expression of emotions and descriptions.
Is being furious a manageable emotion?
Being furious is a strong emotion, but with appropriate emotional regulation techniques, it can be managed.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
