Incensed: meaning, definitions and examples

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incensed

[ɪnˈsɛnst ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

feeling

very angry; enraged

Synonyms

angry, furious, outraged.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
incensed	Used when someone is extremely angry, often because of an injustice or an offense. It conveys a strong sense of being provoked to anger. She was incensed by the unfair treatment she received at work. The community was incensed by the corruption scandal.
angry	A general term for being annoyed or upset. It can be used in a wide range of situations where someone feels strong displeasure or hostility. He was angry because someone had taken his parking spot. She felt angry after reading the negative comments.
outraged	Used when there is a strong feeling of shock and anger, typically in reaction to something perceived as morally wrong or unacceptable. The public was outraged by the discriminatory law. She was outraged by his blatant dishonesty.
furious	Implying a more intense level of anger than 'angry'. It is often used when someone is completely enraged or when their anger is overwhelming. He was furious when he discovered his car had been vandalized. She was furious after finding out that she had been lied to.

Examples of usage

She was incensed by his rude behavior.
The students were incensed by the unfair decision.
I was absolutely incensed by his comments.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

action

to make someone extremely angry

Synonyms

enrage, infuriate, provoke.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
incensed	Use when someone is extremely angry or outraged, often to the point of being shocked or feeling intense frustration. It suggests a very high level of anger. She was incensed by the unfair treatment her friend received. The decision to cut down the historic tree incensed the whole community.
infuriate	Use when someone's anger is intensified to a very high level, often due to ongoing or repeated annoying actions or situations. It implies causing extreme frustration. The constant delays infuriated the passengers. His blatant disregard for the rules infuriated his colleagues.
enrage	Use when someone is very angry, typically due to a specific action or event that triggered this strong reaction. It's complete and intense anger. The rude comment enraged him beyond measure. The unfair rules enrage the students.
provoke	Use when someone or something elicits a reaction, typically an angry or annoyed response. It often implies a deliberate action to cause a response. His taunting remarks provoked an angry reply. The decision to close the park provoked strong opposition from the residents.

Examples of usage

His rude comments incensed her.
The decision to cut their funding incensed the employees.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'incensed' comes from the Latin word 'incensus,' meaning 'to set on fire,' which reflects the intense anger it describes.
Originally, 'incensed' was more closely related to 'incense', as burning incense was often linked to making offerings or expressing strong feelings.

Literature

In classic literature, characters often become incensed over perceived injustices or violations, highlighting themes of honor and revenge.
Shakespeare frequently used the term in his works to depict characters who become violently agitated due to betrayal or treachery.

Psychology

Anger, the emotion behind feeling incensed, is a natural response to threats or frustrations, and can lead to physical reactions like increased heart rate.
Repressed emotions can sometimes lead to feeling incensed, as bottling up feelings can create explosive reactions.

Pop Culture

In film and television, characters who are incensed often showcase dramatic changes in behavior, indicating the impactful nature of this emotion.
Social media often highlights instances where public figures become incensed, prompting discussions about the triggers and consequences of anger.

History

Historical uprisings often stemmed from widespread feelings of being incensed, showing how collective anger can drive social change.
Incensed figures in history, like revolutionary leaders, used their anger to motivate and rally others toward a cause.

Translations

Translations of the word "incensed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irritado

🇮🇳 क्रोधित

🇩🇪 wütend

🇮🇩 marah

🇺🇦 розлючений

🇵🇱 rozgniewany

🇯🇵 怒った

🇫🇷 furieux

🇪🇸 furioso

🇹🇷 öfkeli

🇰🇷 화난

🇸🇦 غاضب

🇨🇿 rozzlobený

🇸🇰 rozzúrený

🇨🇳 愤怒的

🇸🇮 razjarjen

🇮🇸 reiður

🇰🇿 ашулы

🇬🇪 გაბრაზებული

🇦🇿 qəzəbli

🇲🇽 furioso

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,865, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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18862 iconic
18863 fanned
18864 wad
18865 incensed
18866 ticking
18867 ladle
18868 octavo
...