was angry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was angry" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a past state of anger experienced by someone. Example: "She was angry when she found out that her plans had been canceled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But Stella was angry.

The New Yorker

President Obama was angry.

The New York Times

But he was angry.

Independent

Aquilon was angry& jealous.

The New Yorker

Mr Estrada was angry.

The Economist

Gordy was angry.

The New Yorker

Mohseni was angry.

The New Yorker

"Truthfully I was angry.

Independent

But Miracle's father was angry.

The New York Times

Privately, though, Browder was angry.

The New Yorker

THE young man was angry.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was angry" to describe a past state of feeling or emotion. Ensure the context clearly indicates the cause or object of the anger to provide a complete understanding for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "was angry" when a stronger emotion, such as rage or fury, is more appropriate. Choose the word that accurately reflects the intensity of the feeling to avoid misrepresentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was angry" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, indicating a state of feeling in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound and widely used construction. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use in describing someone's emotional state in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was angry" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe a past state of anger. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the reason for the anger and that the intensity of the emotion is accurately represented. While alternatives like "felt anger" or "became enraged" exist, "was angry" serves as a reliable and versatile option for conveying past anger in neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felt anger

Uses a different verb to express the same feeling.

became enraged

Emphasizes a stronger degree of anger.

expressed fury

Focuses on the outward manifestation of anger.

displayed wrath

Conveys a formal and intense sense of anger.

seethed with resentment

Indicates a suppressed and long-lasting anger.

harbored indignation

Suggests a righteous and moral anger.

flew into a rage

Describes a sudden and uncontrolled outburst of anger.

lost their temper

Highlights a loss of control due to anger.

was incensed

Uses a more formal and less common synonym for angry.

showed displeasure

Indicates a mild form of anger or dissatisfaction.

FAQs

How can I use "was angry" in a sentence?

You can use "was angry" to describe a past state of feeling or emotion. For example, "He was angry when he discovered the mistake" or "She was angry at the unfair treatment".

What are some alternatives to saying "was angry"?

You can use alternatives like "felt anger", "became enraged", or "expressed fury" depending on the context and intensity of the emotion.

Is it correct to say "were angry" instead of "was angry"?

No, "were angry" is used for plural subjects (e.g., "They were angry"), while "was angry" is used for singular subjects (e.g., "He was angry").

What's the difference between "was angry" and "is angry"?

"Was angry" describes a past emotion, while "is angry" describes a present emotion. For example, "He was angry yesterday" versus "He is angry now".