ferocious

fe·ro·cious

adj \fə-ˈrō-shəs\

Definition of FEROCIOUS

1

: exhibiting or given to extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality <a ferocious predator>

2

: extremely intense <ferocious heat>

— fe·ro·cious·ly adverb

— fe·ro·cious·ness noun

Examples of FEROCIOUS

1. A ferocious wind swept the beach.
2. The competition among the students was ferocious.

Origin of FEROCIOUS

Latin feroc-, ferox, literally, fierce looking, from ferus + -oc-, -ox (akin to Greek ōps eye) — more at eye

First Known Use: 1646

Related to FEROCIOUS

Synonyms: acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, intense, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent

Antonyms: light, moderate, soft

Related Words: accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened; emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified; stressed; exhaustive, thorough; harsh, rigorous, severe

Near Antonyms: feeble, weak; shallow, superficial; moderated, qualified; alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down); abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued

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See Synonym Discussion at fierce

Rhymes with FEROCIOUS

atrocious, precocious