seething

USAGE SUMMARY

"seething" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to describe someone who is angry and frustrated. For example: She was seething with rage after hearing the news.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead of shipboard romance we found dramatic cactus deserts and oceans seething with marine life.

The Guardian - Travel

Despite the seething resentment of her policies, Merkel remains "extraordinarily powerful", according to the senior diplomat, not least because she has the fattest chequebook.

The Guardian - Business

We're conditioned to think that anger is bad and so we can often bottle things up and spend ages quietly seething.

The Guardian

People are seething with anger over the fact that while billions were pumped into the Irish banks, ordinary citizens – especially among the squeezed middle classes – are the ones enduring the pain of post-Celtic Tiger austerity-Ireland.

The Guardian

But of course each generation reacts against the previous one, so to us the oldsters are tragically – even cancer-causingly – repressed: terrifying creatures seething with muffled emotions; grim yet cheerful; glinty and beady, all disapproving half-glances, eerie smiles hiding tears, and nothing said.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Privately, the IMF is seething at Greece's show of defiance.

The Guardian - Business

They really must have been seething with anger.

The Economist

If an inner core of leaders "caucus" together and stitch up deals on the single market or financial services, Britain could be left seething with impotent frustration.Then add a deepening of the crisis in the euro zone.

The Economist

Many American officials are still seething at China's test of an anti-satellite missile in 2007.

The Economist

"Why can't he [Mr Abbas] be more like the Israelis and defend his own?" asked a Ramallah student.Sandwiched between his people's seething anger and his dependency on Israel for his own security and on foreign aid to keep his administration afloat, Mr Abbas has scant room for manoeuvre.

The Economist

In Cairo in 2009 Lexington met a pro-reform academic, Nader Fergany, still seething six years on.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environments, "seething" can effectively portray chaotic or turbulent conditions, such as a "seething crowd" or a "seething sea", adding intensity to the scene.

Common error

Avoid using "seething" to describe direct, overt actions of anger. "Seething" implies a concealed, internal buildup of emotion, not an outward display. For explicit anger, consider words like "ranting" or "raging".

Linguistic Context

Seething functions primarily as an adjective, describing a state of intense, often suppressed, anger or agitation. As Ludwig AI shows, it is used to depict either a person's inner turmoil (e.g., "They really must have been seething with anger") or a turbulent environment (e.g., "oceans seething with marine life").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "seething" functions primarily as an adjective to vividly express intense, often suppressed, anger or agitation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in various contexts, most commonly in News & Media. While synonyms like "fuming" and "livid" exist, "seething" uniquely conveys an internal buildup of emotion or a turbulent environment. When using "seething", avoid describing overt displays of anger; instead, focus on the hidden, internal state or the chaotic atmosphere. This guide provides practical tips and addresses common usage errors, ensuring effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fuming

Indicates intense anger, similar to "seething", but often implies a more visible or outward expression of anger.

livid

Describes being extremely angry, closely related to "seething", often suggesting a visible flush of anger.

incandescent with rage

Emphasizes the intensity of the anger, suggesting a state of extreme fury beyond simple "seething".

brimming with anger

Implies that anger is on the verge of overflowing, similar to "seething" but with a sense of suppressed emotion.

consumed by resentment

Focuses on the consuming nature of the negative emotion, where "seething" describes the internal state.

in a state of agitation

Describes a restless and uneasy state, while "seething" specifies the underlying anger.

simmering with indignation

Highlights suppressed anger over perceived injustice, while "seething" can apply to any intense anger.

filled with suppressed fury

Implies a strong, contained anger, where "seething" indicates that this anger is actively churning within.

ready to explode with anger

Suggests an impending outburst of anger, while "seething" focuses on the internal buildup.

bitterly resentful

Emphasizes the deep-seated and long-lasting nature of the anger, where "seething" describes the current state.

FAQs

How can I use "seething" in a sentence?

You can use "seething" to describe a person's internal state of anger, as in "She was "seething with anger"", or to describe a turbulent environment, such as "The ocean was "seething with life"".

What's the difference between "seething" and "fuming"?

While both words describe intense anger, "seething" suggests a suppressed, internal rage, whereas "fuming" often implies a more visible and outward expression of anger.

What are some synonyms for "seething"?

Synonyms for "seething" include "livid", "fuming", "brimming with anger", and "consumed by resentment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "seething" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "seething" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when you want to vividly and precisely depict intense, internal anger. It is often found in news articles and literary works.