angrily

Angrily is an English adverb describing the manner in which an action is performed, deriving from the adjective angry. It indicates that anger or irritability influences the action, such as speech, movement, or behavior. The standard suffix -ly forms the adverb, making angrily a regular and widely used adverb in everyday language.

Usage and function

Angrily is typically placed after the verb it modifies, as in “She spoke angrily to her supervisor.” It can modify verbs of perception or reaction as well, for example, “He frowned angrily at the news.” It is not typically used to modify nouns; in most cases a noun cannot be described as “angrily.” In writing, angrily appears in narrative prose, dialogue, and reporting when the author wishes to convey tone and emotional state.

Nuance and comparison

Angrily conveys a straightforward sense of anger, ranging from irritation to strong hostility, depending on context. It is generally less intense than synonyms such as furiously or irately in certain contexts, but the strength is determined by the surrounding text and the speaker’s portrayal. As an adverb of manner, angrily primarily modifies actions or speech rather than describing the subject’s internal state alone.

Related terms

Angry is the corresponding adjective; anger is the noun. Other related adverbs describe tone or intensity, such as irately, heatedly, or calmly. Antonyms include calmly, peacefully, and placidly.

Examples

They spoke angrily to the manager. He snapped angrily at the clerk.