1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the animal is known as a ferocious predator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ferocious
Away from the nonstop publicity machinery, Mansfield is revealed to be a ferocious romantic who sometimes suffered the abuse of domineering and violent men.
—
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Trump has seemed especially irritated about Putin’s propensity to have constructive or even friendly phone conversations with the president — only for Russia to launch ferocious bombardments against Ukrainian cities hours later.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 3 Aug. 2025
The devotion, at times, has turned almost ferocious; Pop Mart decided to suspend in-person sales of Labubu in the United Kingdom after reports of chaos at stores.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2025
To watch her is to be enthralled by her — the ferocious eyes, hair like fire, a near-permanent smirk.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Trump has seemed especially irritated about Putin’s propensity to have constructive or even friendly phone conversations with the president — only for Russia to launch ferocious bombardments against Ukrainian cities hours later.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 3 Aug. 2025
The devotion, at times, has turned almost ferocious; Pop Mart decided to suspend in-person sales of Labubu in the United Kingdom after reports of chaos at stores.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2025
To watch her is to be enthralled by her — the ferocious eyes, hair like fire, a near-permanent smirk.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
-
The dog days of summer brought intense heat to the Volunteer State, including a nearly month-long streak of 90-degree days in July, the fifth longest in Nashville’s history, said the weather service.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
23 Aug. 2025
-
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the symptoms of a snake bite differ depending on the species, but common signs near the wound include puncture marks, bleeding, redness, swelling, bruising, blistering and intense pain.—
Tina Chen,
Mercury News,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Nonetheless, the show’s premiere provides the perfect moment to map out the slimy, menacing world of Ellen Ripley and company in their epic battle against one of the galaxy’s fiercest creatures.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
-
On a subsequent rally, Kaylee smacked a fierce shot past me, scoring her team a point.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Dallas was on the other end of that story later in the week, making a frantic comeback against Los Angeles at home but falling short as Bueckers’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer rimmed out.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The frantic husband immediately called 911 so his wife and baby could be transported to a nearby hospital.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Residents learn to care for critically ill patients, a process that demands intensive hours, extensive study outside of work to prepare for cases, and the emotional resilience to confront life-and-death situations daily.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Musicians are also drawn here; the historic Sewanee Summer Music Festival, a month-long training intensive, stages concerts each summer, and the University Choir performs every Sunday at All Saints’ Chapel during the academic year.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But Over-the-Rhine and Downtown have seen an uptick in violent crime.—
Brenda Ordonez,
The Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Coleman said about 175 people convicted of violent crimes that took place before the law's effective date who had not yet been sentenced could have been eligible for early release.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Feeling profoundly betrayed and abandoned by David, Rebecca’s loyalty lies with the vicious and conniving Juno, the only family she’s known for the last decade.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Nothing could possibly go wrong with all the vicious alien specimens on board, right?—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
During the weekend retreat at Camp David, in 1971, when Nixon’s team arrived at the decision to untether the dollar from gold, Treasury Secretary John Connally dismissed concerns that allies would be furious.—
Wally Adeyemo,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
-
During the 2013 trial, prosecutors said Arias was furious after Alexander ended their relationship and began seeing someone new, rejecting her attempts to rekindle their romance.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share