fierce

adjective

ˈfirs How to pronounce fierce (audio)
fiercer; fiercest
Synonyms of fiercenext
1
a
: violently hostile or aggressive in temperament
a fierce tiger
b
: given to fighting or killing : pugnacious
fierce fighters
2
a
: marked by unrestrained zeal or vehemence
a fierce argument
b
: extremely vexatious, disappointing, or intense
fierce pain
3
: furiously active or determined
make a fierce effort
4
: wild or menacing in appearance
5
informal : having or expressing bold confidence or style
When it comes to celebrity fashion, while the looks are fierce they're not always attainable.— Marlen Komar
fierceness noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for fierce

fierce, ferocious, barbarous, savage, cruel mean showing fury or malignity in looks or actions.

fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Examples of fierce in a Sentence

He was killed in a fierce battle. The proposal has faced fierce opposition. The two teams have had a fierce rivalry for many years. He's admired for his fierce independence. You could see the fierce determination in her eyes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Jackson estate explicitly wanted nothing about Chandler in the film, so fact that the allegations do appear has led to a fierce internal dispute and extensive reshoots, Deadline has confirmed. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025 The bottom line: The total number of applicants nationwide remains below record highs seen in the 1990s, per the WSJ, but the year-over-year jump still means fierce competition for aspiring lawyers. — Torey Van Oot, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025 November 1911 debacle wasn't Curie's first time in the public eye: the French Academy of Sciences had recently turned down her application to join, a decision which came after months of public debate and fierce criticism of Curie in the press. — Kiona N. Smith, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The sky-high prices caused fierce backlash against Ticketmaster, the country’s biggest ticketing website and concert promoter, from lawmakers who accused the company of acting as a monopoly. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fierce

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fiers, from Anglo-French fer, fers, fiers, from Latin ferus wild, savage; akin to Greek thēr wild animal

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fierce was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing fierce

Rhymes for fierce

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Browse Nearby Words

Fierasferidae
fierce
fiercely
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Cite this Entry

“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fierce. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

fierce

adjective
ˈfi(ə)rs How to pronounce fierce (audio)
fiercer; fiercest
1
a
: violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
b
: eager to fight or kill
2
: expressed with extreme force or anger : intense
a fierce argument
3
: furiously active or determined
a fierce effort
4
: wild or threatening in appearance
fiercely adverb
fierceness noun

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Nglish: Translation of fierce for Spanish Speakers

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