irate

UK: /aɪˈreɪt/ US: /aɪˈreɪt, ˈaɪreɪt/ ,(ī rāt′, ī′rāt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

i•rate /aɪˈreɪt, ˈaɪreɪt/   adj. 

1. angry;
   enraged;
   furious;
   annoyed:
   She grew very irate when I asked her to explain the mistake on my bill.
2. arising from or showing anger:
   an irate letter to the editor.

i•rate•ly, adv. 
i•rate•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

i•rate  (ī rāt′, ī′rāt), adj. 

1. angry;
   enraged:
   an irate customer.
2. arising from or characterized by anger:
   an irate letter to the editor.

• Latin īrātus past participle of īrāscī to be angry, get angry; see irascible, -ate¹
• 1830–40

i•rate′ly, adv. 
i•rate′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. furious, irritated, provoked.

Antonyms

• 1. calm.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

irate / aɪˈreɪt/ adjective

1. incensed with anger; furious
2. marked by extreme anger: an irate letter

Etymology: 19th Century: from Latin īrātus enraged, from īrascī to be angry

iˈrately adverb