seething

Seething is a present participle derived from the verb seethe. In general usage, it refers to the rapid bubbling or churn of a liquid caused by heat, as in water seething on a stove. It more commonly describes a state of intense inner agitation, especially anger or frustration, that is not openly expressed. When someone is seething, emotions are bottled up and may erupt later, or be conveyed through heightened tone, fidgeting, or terse remarks. The phrase seething with anger is common in journalism and fiction to convey concealed or controlled rage.

The term can also describe a large crowd or situation that seems tense or volatile, for example a seething crowd or seething anticipation, where the atmosphere is charged and unstable. Seething can apply to other non-liquid contexts, such as a plot of political or social tension that is described as seething.

Etymology: seethe comes from old forms meaning to boil or simmer; seething thus conveys intense bubbling, whether literally or figuratively. The usage implies strong emotion or volatility rather than calm surface emotion.

Common synonyms include boil, rage, seethe with anger, fume, simmer, or churn. In contrast to boiling, seething often connotes internal pressure or restrained outward movement, though it can also describe visible, outward agitation. Its connotation tends toward intensity and instability rather than mere irritation.