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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Raptors forward Scottie Barnes finished with a team-high 23 points on 8-of-23 shooting from the field, and Toronto trailed by 23 before mounting a ferocious late-game comeback.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
Aside from the obvious, another reason the Commanders need to close the deficit is Daniels is going to be facing a ferocious rush in pure passing situations.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
It was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which spread at ferocious speeds in high winds, eventually destroying more than 9,000 houses and buildings around Altadena, Calif.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 23 Jan. 2025
Hudson’s father, Cecil, a logger, had a ferocious temper that scared even his own parents, who lived nearby.
—Eileen Finan, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
Aside from the obvious, another reason the Commanders need to close the deficit is Daniels is going to be facing a ferocious rush in pure passing situations.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
It was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which spread at ferocious speeds in high winds, eventually destroying more than 9,000 houses and buildings around Altadena, Calif.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 23 Jan. 2025
Hudson’s father, Cecil, a logger, had a ferocious temper that scared even his own parents, who lived nearby.
—Eileen Finan, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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This is due to the bodywork, interior work, and intense customization required to retrofit a new drivetrain under an old body.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2025
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Last year, intense protests and riots against immigration erupted throughout England after 17-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana stabbed and killed young girls at a dance class.—
Abigail Anthony,
National Review,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The bill has been met with both fierce opposition and staunch support from students, professors and community members across the state.—
Amanda McCard,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2025
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With Zverev looking to cement his dominance, Alcaraz aiming for a repeat title, and Fritz eager to defend home soil, the competition will be fierce from day one.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 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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Hearing this, a frantic and audibly panicked Cindy Anthony placed the now infamous call to the police.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
4 Mar. 2025
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Those pieces included: Twenty-two people shot, including one killed, at Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl rally How Andy Reid comforted frantic teen at Chiefs parade shooting.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The tool is designed for people who do intensive knowledge work in areas like finance, science, policy, and engineering.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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The episode, written by Dan Erickson and Mark Friedman and directed by Jessica Lee Gagné, feels almost made with Reddit in mind, filled with images and Easter Eggs that demand intensive screenshot analysis.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While confronting their violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignites between Thomas, Ben, and the notorious Five Points Gang.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2025
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That career has been highlighted by some of the most violent fights in MMA history.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Contrary to what many people believe, pit bulls don't naturally have a bad temperament, are not inherently vicious, and are not more dangerous than other dogs.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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At age 55, the director of the vicious South Korean social satire Parasite specializes in adolescent appeal.—
Armond White,
National Review,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But the impact goes far beyond playful patriotism — Canadians are furious.—
Kaleigh Rogers,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2025
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Mugler was furious, and the two didn’t speak for several years, eventually reconciling in the 1990s.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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