Angry With vs. Angry About
Angry With vs. Angry About separates directly documented constructions and keeps the distinction narrow rather than turning a context-sensitive pattern into a universal preposition rule.
Use angry with for the person who is the target of anger; use angry about for the matter or situation causing the anger.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Focus of anger | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| person who is the target | angry with (also angry at is documented) | angry with a colleague |
| matter or situation causing anger | angry about | angry about the delay |
Quick tests
Target test
Is the complement the person toward whom the anger is directed?
If yes: “Angry with” is appropriate; “angry at” is also documented in person-target contexts.
If no: If the complement is the issue or situation, use “angry about.”
Caveat: This is a useful semantic distinction, not a claim that “with” is the only possible preposition before a person.
Examples
She was angry with me for missing the deadline.
The person is the target of the anger.
They were angry about the cancellation.
The matter causing the anger follows “about.”
They were angry with the cancellation.
Better: They were angry about the cancellation.
For the situation itself, “angry about” is the clearer documented pattern.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge directly gives angry at/with a person and angry about a matter or situation.
Style Boundary
Angry at can also be documented for a person, so this page does not imply that with is the only valid person-target form.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Angry (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for angry with/at someone and angry about something.