make someone angry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make someone angry" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used when talking about causing someone to feel anger or frustration. Example: The rude customer's comments made the waitress angry.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Or you can make someone angry and be completely calm and distanced from that anger.

The Guardian - Tech

He thinks Fixed could help in any area where the fee amount is small enough not to protest in person, but still big enough to make someone angry.

Stanford University

They have to go somewhere and, whichever type of power you choose, it is going to make someone angry.

BBC

Be comfortable and confident that you may make someone angry and that may just be the tipping point they need to shift their focus from doing what they have always done.

Forbes

Simple triggers can make someone angry, joyous, sad, or happy.

Huffington Post

That means that you will make someone angry.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Kolod says she often has clients who want to avoid making someone angry or disappointing them — so they'll do indirect things to avoid that, and ghosting is one of those tactics.

The Washington Post

He had made someone angry.

Vice

Making someone angry for a little while is better than letting them get into an accident that could injure or kill somebody.

WikiHow

Those experiences could make someone very angry and very politicised.

The Guardian - Books

Failure to do this all properly will likely cause a screw up and make someone very angry.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make someone angry", consider the degree of anger you want to convey and choose a synonym like "infuriate" or "exasperate" for stronger emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with plural subjects when constructing sentences with "make someone angry". For example, "His actions makes her angry" is incorrect; it should be "His actions make her angry".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make someone angry" functions as a causative verb phrase. It describes the action of causing a person to experience the emotion of anger. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, showing how different situations or actions can lead to someone becoming angry.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make someone angry" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the action of causing anger in another person. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability across various contexts. While suitable for both formal and informal communication, alternative phrases like "infuriate someone" or "rile someone up" can be used to convey different intensities of anger or to adjust the level of formality. When using this phrase, ensure proper subject-verb agreement and consider the specific nuance you wish to communicate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anger someone

This alternative is a more concise way to express causing someone to become angry, omitting "make" and "someone".

infuriate someone

This alternative implies a stronger degree of anger than the original phrase.

provoke someone's anger

This alternative suggests instigating or eliciting anger from someone.

rile someone up

This alternative is more informal and suggests stirring up someone's anger.

enrage someone

This alternative describes causing intense anger or fury.

exasperate someone

This alternative implies frustrating someone to the point of anger.

cause someone to be angry

This alternative is a more verbose and slightly more formal way to express the same idea.

put someone in a bad mood

This alternative describes creating a negative emotional state that may include anger.

irritate someone

This alternative suggests causing mild anger or annoyance.

aggravate someone

This alternative suggests making someone’s anger or frustration worse.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "make someone angry" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "cause someone resentment", "provoke someone's anger", or "incite someone's fury".

What's the difference between "make someone angry" and "irritate someone"?

"Make someone angry" implies a stronger feeling of resentment and displeasure. "Irritate someone" suggests a milder form of annoyance or frustration.

Is it grammatically correct to say "makes someone angry" instead of "make someone angry"?

No, "makes someone angry" is typically grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "make someone angry" unless you're using it in a context where it's third-person singular, like "what he does makes someone angry".

What are some informal ways to say "make someone angry"?

Informal alternatives include "rile someone up", "get under someone's skin", or "push someone's buttons".