as in brutality
a very fierce or violent quality; the quality or state of being ferocious
the ferocity of the attack The ferocity of the backlash took them by surprise.
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Recent Examples of ferocity
Bernadine’s strain of Black feminine righteous indignation and disappointment was also distinct from the often comical ferocity of the Blaxploitation heroine.
—
Niela Orr, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
What makes Anjuman remarkable is her poetry—her ferocity and unfailing desire to continue to participate in this ancient art.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Hounsou’s depth surpasses the two-dimensional conception of his role, and DiCaprio taps into unexpected ferocity in a performance of sure instincts.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 8 Dec. 2025
Nickname born from size and ferocity A Texas high school star who attended North Texas State in 1966, Greene got his legendary nickname from fans impressed by his imposing size and ferocious approach to the game.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocity
Niela Orr, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
What makes Anjuman remarkable is her poetry—her ferocity and unfailing desire to continue to participate in this ancient art.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Hounsou’s depth surpasses the two-dimensional conception of his role, and DiCaprio taps into unexpected ferocity in a performance of sure instincts.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 8 Dec. 2025
Nickname born from size and ferocity A Texas high school star who attended North Texas State in 1966, Greene got his legendary nickname from fans impressed by his imposing size and ferocious approach to the game.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocity
Noun
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For some residents, Good’s killing reopened deep wounds in a city still reckoning with the police murder of George Floyd, which occurred just blocks away in May 2020 and sparked nationwide protests against police brutality.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
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Captured on video, the incident would bring national tensions over police brutality to a head, igniting months of demonstrations around the country.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The American people must reject this cruelty and extremism.—
Ali Bauman,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Does their lack of kindness grant you permission to respond with equal insensitivity or even cruelty?—
Michael Isaacson,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The guy was a sleaze, but there’s a pretty big gap between sleaziness and murderousness.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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His mother bequeathed to him her fierceness.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Newsom’s allies attribute much of this to the governor’s fierceness in the redistricting efforts.—
Amie Parnes,
The Hill,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocity. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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