seething

IPA/ˈsiː.ðɪŋ/
KK[sˈiðɪŋ]IPA/ˈsiː.ðɪŋ/

seething — adjective

  • seethingpositive
  • more seethingcomparative
  • most seethingsuperlative

1. feeling a very powerful anger that you keep hidden inside you, without showing i

1.形容詞B2
釋義

feeling a very powerful anger that you keep hidden inside you, without showing it openly or saying how you feel

例句

Kevin stood seething at the back of the room as his boss claimed credit for his work.

seething + at/in + location while [provocation]

Chiara's face remained calm, but she was seething inside after the unfair criticism.

contrast: remained calm + seething inside

同義詞
  • fuming

    more visible — a person who is fuming may show it through their expression or body language; less controlled than seething

  • livid

    equally intense anger, but may or may not be hidden; often used immediately after a triggering event

  • simmering

    suggests anger that is building up gradually over time rather than a sudden intense reaction

反義詞
  • calm

    the opposite emotional state — peaceful and untroubled

  • serene

    implies a deep, visible peacefulness that is the opposite of suppressed turmoil

文法句型

seethe with rage/anger

sit/seem/stand + seething

用法筆記

Unlike the ordinary adjective 'angry', 'seething' specifically describes anger that is held back rather than expressed openly. Frequently used with 'with' + noun (rage, anger, resentment) or as a subject complement (sat seething, stood seething). The noun it modifies is often a voice-related word (whisper, silence, tone) that hints at the hidden emotion.

常見錯誤

❌She was seething angry at her brother.
✅She was seething with anger at her brother.
💡'seething' is an adjective or verb, not an intensifier for 'angry'.
❌He was seething and shouting at everyone.
✅He stood seething silently in the corner.
💡'seething' describes suppressed anger, not loud, visible outbursts.

2. (of a place or surface) filled with a large number of people, animals, or things

2.形容詞B2
釋義

(of a place or surface) filled with a large number of people, animals, or things that are all moving around busily and quickly

例句

The main square was seething with tourists taking photos of every statue.

seething with [crowd]: place + crowd + action

The old wooden floorboards were seething with tiny ants carrying food crumbs.

seething with [insects]: surface + creatures + action

同義詞
  • teeming

    very close in meaning, but 'teeming' focuses more on abundance and less on the speed of movement

  • swarming

    more strongly associated with insects or a crowd moving in a disorganised way; often suggests a slightly out-of-control feeling

  • buzzing

    emphasises the noise and energy of activity rather than the visual density of the movement

反義詞
  • empty

    having no people or activity inside

  • deserted

    suggesting a place that is usually busy but is now still and empty

文法句型

place + is/seems + seething with + people/insects/activity

用法筆記

Almost always used with 'with' + a noun describing the moving entities (people, tourists, insects, activity). The subject is typically a place (square, room, street) or a mass noun (crowd, swarm). Unlike 'crowded', 'seething' emphasises the constant, lively motion of the things packed into the space.

常見錯誤

❌The room was seething.
✅The room was seething with people.
💡This sense of 'seething' requires 'with' + noun to specify what is moving inside the space.
❌The ants were seething on the ground.
✅The ground was seething with ants.
💡The place or surface is the subject, not the moving things themselves.