1
as in ferocious
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the Vikings had a well-earned reputation for being fierce warriors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a fierce wind made the frigid temperatures seem even worse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the fierce faces of the players on the opposing hockey team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
a social reformer of fierce and fearless determination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
fierce fighting raged in the streets of the war-torn city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
fierce early-morning trading sent stocks soaring
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 fierce
Here, Graber discusses the hectic weeks after Musk's Twitter takeover, the challenges of running a fast-growing social app amid fierce competition and why her ultimate vision for Bluesky's success extends beyond its user count.
—
Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
His advocacy prompted fierce backlash from parents, students and political groups.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
New research suggests even the ocean’s fiercest predators could be vulnerable.
—Meghan Pryce, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Lucy Liu gives a tour-de-force performance, delivering fierce intensity and emotional depth that will stay with audiences long after the final frame.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
His advocacy prompted fierce backlash from parents, students and political groups.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
New research suggests even the ocean’s fiercest predators could be vulnerable.
—Meghan Pryce, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Lucy Liu gives a tour-de-force performance, delivering fierce intensity and emotional depth that will stay with audiences long after the final frame.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
-
So all of us were just young and hungry and had the energy to be ferocious.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In the pic, Garfield plays a legendary leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Both require intense concentration, in order to be any good, and diligent practice, and both make use of imagination—which in tennis takes the form of anticipation—and creativity.—
Thomas Swick
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Landon was also famous for his double act with Victor French who played the gruff outdoor-living Isaiah Edwards in Little House.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
The new film from the husband-and-lesbian-wife duo Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke features Margaret Qualley playing gay (again) as the titular detective Honey, with Aubrey Plaza co-starring as a gruff cop who is the object of her affections.—
James Factora,
Them.,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Understanding the Internal Operating System Many successful people operate on the assumption that more effort, more hours, and more aggressive strategies will inevitably create results.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Reckless driving, which typically involves a combination of speeding, distracted driving and erratic and aggressive behaviors, has remained a persistent issue across the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Researchers measured violent and property crime data from 2023, fatal car accidents, drug overdose deaths and excessive drinking rates.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Alderman Raymond Lopez, a Democrat from Chicago’s 15th Ward, wants Trump to send the National Guard to his city because of the violent crime to which people in his city are subjected.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2010, Shannan Gilbert placed a frantic and incoherent 911 call, begging for help and claiming someone was after her.—
Michael Ruiz , Jennifer Johnson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
And that was only after a frantic scramble to get the snap off for Harrison Butker’s 59-yard kick to beat the clock going into the locker room.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
There was a time when loving someone of the wrong gender could result in harassment, arrest or a savage beating.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Richard Wrangham’s research shows how cooking allowed humans to access more calories, enabling the expansion of energy-intensive activities like building and creating.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The goal of the vaccine is to keep people out of the hospital, keep them out of the intensive-care unit, keep them out of the morgue.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share