1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display
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2
as in fierce
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
ferocious forest fires threatened to destroy hundreds of homes in the scrubland
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3
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the animal is known as a ferocious predator
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4
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
after a day of ferocious up-and-down trading, the stock market ended up down 300 points
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ferocious
However, Reppert noted that dry weather in the Southwest through the spring should ultimately help the season end there after a ferocious start.
—
Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 20 Mar. 2025
The ferocious attack happened on the Pueblo of Zuni reservation when the pair were out on a late-night drive to buy cigarettes, according to court filings out of the District of New Mexico.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Hot Spring Shark Attack is set in a small, hot spring town in Japan, where a ferocious ancient shark reawakens and terrorizes the local hot spring facilities.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
Moments of ferocious, wall-of-noise intensity come interspersed with passages of beautiful calm, like vape breaks between stints inside a dungeon rave.
—Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 20 Mar. 2025
The ferocious attack happened on the Pueblo of Zuni reservation when the pair were out on a late-night drive to buy cigarettes, according to court filings out of the District of New Mexico.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Hot Spring Shark Attack is set in a small, hot spring town in Japan, where a ferocious ancient shark reawakens and terrorizes the local hot spring facilities.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
Moments of ferocious, wall-of-noise intensity come interspersed with passages of beautiful calm, like vape breaks between stints inside a dungeon rave.
—Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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Regional sports networks in general have come under intense pressure as cord-cutting keeps eroding pay-TV subscriptions.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
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The May 1945 bombing came on the heels of another intense U.S. firebombing campaign known as Operation Meetinghouse.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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But frantic calls to her husband’s doctor’s office resulted in an appointment 10 days later.—
Sara Belcher,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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The trailer opens with a frantic DiCaprio grabbing a payphone to call into the rebellion using secret codes.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This alarming probability briefly landed the asteroid atop impact risk lists maintained by NASA and the European Space Agency, triggering planetary defense discussions and prompting intensive follow-up observations to refine the object's trajectory.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Number Purchased by Readers: 123 Crest 3D Whitestrips Teeth Whitening Kit What to Know: The Crest 3D whitening kit has 44 strips and two more intensive one-hour treatments.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Two weeks ago, a protest by retirees, joined by soccer fans and members of social and political organizations, ended in a violent clash between police and protesters.—
Manuela Castro,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2025
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Fast-talking criminals, boxing matches, violent action sequences, car charases, and notable stars (Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren, and Pierce Brosnan) are all present and accounted for.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Softened by pride, Amber slinks away herself, albeit much more cutely than Gregory and accompanied by a vicious side-eye.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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The Kansas City Glory’s season opener was set to begin on Saturday afternoon, but viral sensation Elena Easley was sitting on the field, experiencing a vicious headache.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Martin’s work has taken on a furious pace in the past few months amid the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion protocols and health, welfare and Medicaid cuts that will fall hard on vulnerable Black Americans.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
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The Leafs hatched a furious last-minute comeback to force overtime, only to lose 6-5 in a shootout to the Sharks, Toronto’s second such loss to San Jose this month.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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