to enrage
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to enrage
To make someone very angry or furious. It is an elevated and strong form of 'ärgern' (to annoy).
Mit seiner andauernden Respektlosigkeit erzürnte er schließlich auch seine Vorgesetzte.
With his constant disrespect, he eventually enraged even his supervisor.
The verb is derived from the noun 'der Zorn' (great anger, wrath). The prefix 'er-' indicates here that a state is being brought about. 'Erzürnen' therefore literally means 'to put into anger' or 'to make furious'. As a verb with 'er-', it is inseparable.
Seine Lügen erzürnten sie zutiefst.
His lies enraged her deeply.
The verb is usually used transitively and requires an accusative object: 'jemanden erzürnen' (to enrage someone). It can also be used reflexively with a preposition: 'sich über etwas (Akkusativ) erzürnen' (to become angry about something).
Seine Arroganz erzürnte die Anwesenden.
His arrogance enraged those present.
'Erzürnen' is a word used in elevated written language. It is hardly used in normal everyday speech; it sounds very formal or literary.
Die Götter zu erzürnen, galt in der Antike als große Gefahr.
To enrage the gods was considered a great danger in antiquity.
to upset / excite
Both aufregen and erzürnen can mean that something causes anger. Erzürnen explicitly refers to strong anger and sounds elevated. Aufregen is more general and more common in everyday language; besides anger, it can also express nervousness, worry, or simply being emotionally agitated.
In seiner feierlichen Rede erklärte der Minister, die Entscheidung erzürne ihn.
In his formal speech, the minister declared that the decision enraged him.
Im Gespräch sagte der Minister, die Entscheidung rege ihn sehr auf.
In the conversation, the minister said that the decision had greatly upset him.
