ferocious

1 of 2

adjective

fe·​ro·​cious fə-ˈrō-shəs 

1

: exhibiting or given to extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality

a ferocious predator

the ferocious butchery of women and children

2

: extremely intense

ferocious heat

The competition among the students was ferocious.

ferociously adverb

ferociousness noun

ferociousness

2 of 2

noun

fe·​ro·​cious·​ness

plural -es

: ferocity

Synonyms of ferocious

Adjective

• intense
• fierce
• intensive
• terrible
• furious
• deep

Choose the Right Synonym for ferocious

fierce, ferocious, barbarous, savage, cruel 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

ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Examples of ferocious in a Sentence

Adjective

A ferocious wind swept the beach.

The competition among the students was ferocious.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

On his 38th birthday, former Boston Bruins star Milan Lucic, one of the most ferocious power forwards of his generation, announced his retirement from the game on Sunday via social media. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026

Noisy, ebullient, ferocious and free, Dance! —Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026

Before Backrooms shorts, Minecraft and Roblox games were the thing, there was Minecraft which has a wonderfully ferocious fanbase. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 May 2026

Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose ferocious, hard-hitting style of play angered opponents and sometimes overshadowed his prodigious skills and ability to deliver in the biggest games, has died after taking his own life, according to authorities. —Stephen Whyno, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ferocious

• atrocious
• precocious

Kids Definition

ferocious

adjective

fe·​ro·​cious fə-ˈrō-shəs 

1

: fierce sense 1, savage

2

: very great : extreme

ferocious heat

ferociously adverb

ferociousness noun

ferocity

fə-ˈräs-ət-ē

noun