fierce

adjective

ˈfirs How to pronounce fierce (audio)
Definition of fiercenext
1
as in ferocious
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition the Vikings had a well-earned reputation for being fierce warriors

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2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect a fierce wind made the frigid temperatures seem even worse

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3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance the fierce faces of the players on the opposing hockey team

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4
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal a social reformer of fierce and fearless determination

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5
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity fierce fighting raged in the streets of the war-torn city

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6
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity fierce early-morning trading sent stocks soaring

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fierce different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fierce are barbarous, cruel, ferocious, and savage. While all these words 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

Where would barbarous be a reasonable alternative to fierce?

While in some cases nearly identical to fierce, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When is it sensible to use cruel instead of fierce?

The meanings of cruel and fierce largely overlap; however, cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

When would ferocious be a good substitute for fierce?

The synonyms ferocious and fierce are sometimes interchangeable, but ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When can savage be used instead of fierce?

Although the words savage and fierce have much in common, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fierce Rates are particularly tempting in April, May, and October, when marina berths are easier to find and northerly winds, which can be quite fierce in July and August, are much less likely. — Helen Iatrou, AFAR Media, 9 Apr. 2025 Spanish mastiffs, meanwhile, are also known for being hugely affectionate towards family, and a fierce defender of livestock as a working dog. — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 After the 106-94 loss Thursday to its fiercest rival, Iowa (17-16) will miss the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and post a sub-20-win campaign for the third straight year. — Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025 American hunting influencer Sam Jones is facing fierce backlash after taking a baby wombat from it's mother while visiting Australia. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
  1. ferocious
  2. intense
  3. gruff
  4. aggressive
  5. violent
  6. frantic
  7. savage
  8. intensive
Adjective
  • Severe thunderstorms will roar to life by the late afternoon in the Mississippi Valley, become more ferocious and pound potentially more than 900 miles of the region – from Louisiana to Minnesota – through the overnight hours.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Ferran’s ragged butterfly Blanche looks at first glance as if she might be blown to smithereens with one gust of Stanley’s ferocious lung power.
    — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • The missions became more intense as Japan's outlook grew more dire and the military showcased the sacrifice of the pilots to drum up patriotism and support for the war.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Next, the authors report that repressive techniques are often effective in suppressing protest in the short run but tend to make resistance more intense in the long term.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • This was the puzzle: The Torch and the Treasure A Bridge Puzzle of Strategy, Speed... and Stolen Gold Five daring fantasy thieves—a nimble Elf, a sneaky Goblin, a fleet-footed Satyr, a gruff Dwarf, and a hulking Troll—have just pulled off the heist of the century.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Could this gruff old man playing mahjong in a nondescript hall be a curious gambler on the last boat up the Mekong, laughing in the face of Edward’s existential crisis?
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • The two were very aggressive from the start of the fight, with a lot of output.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • There are also more aggressive interventions for people with severe allergies who don’t respond to other medicines like desensitization therapy, also known as allergy shots.
    — Umair Irfan, Wired News, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Bravo’s family said the 28-year-old was ending a violent relationship.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Adams said the pair had discussed how to combat violent migrant gangs and embedding more New York Police Department officers into federal task forces.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • When intentionally chosen, the right scent can even shift your mood—lifting you out of a listless haze or helping ease a frantic pace.
    — Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the phone calls for additional funding became more frantic from producers.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of frantic
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • That could include chemical-intensive lab work like testing sea lions, killer whales and walruses from Alaska for environmental contaminants, Tolimieri said.
    — Lisa Song, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Class-size mandates effectively compete with other investments, like hiring more mental health professionals or investing in intensive teacher training for the existing workforce.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of intensive

Browse Nearby Words

fiends
fierce
fiercely
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Cite this Entry

“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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