Wrathful means filled with intense, powerful anger. When someone is wrathful, they're experiencing a deep, burning fury that often shows in their voice, face, and actions, far beyond ordinary annoyance or frustration.

You might encounter this word in stories about gods, kings, or powerful figures. In Greek mythology, Zeus was known for his wrathful responses when mortals disrespected him, hurling thunderbolts from the sky. The wrathful dragon Smaug in The Hobbit unleashes terrible destruction when disturbed. These examples show how wrathful describes anger that's both fierce and can be dangerous.

The word carries a sense of righteousness or authority behind the anger. A wrathful parent feels deeply angry because you betrayed their trust or put yourself in danger, going well beyond simple rule-breaking. A wrathful judge in a story might sentence a criminal harshly because of terrible crimes committed.

Wrathful is stronger and more formal than simply “angry” or “mad.” You wouldn't say someone was wrathful because they lost a game. The word suggests the kind of intense, almost frightening anger that makes people step back and take notice.