ferine

adjective

ˈfir-ˌīn How to pronounce ferine (audio)
Definition of ferinenext
as in brute
having or showing the nature and appetites of a lower animal the boxer's ferine ferocity in the ring is legendary

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferine
  1. brute
  2. brutal
  3. feral
Adjective
  • There is a fallacy in thinking of languages as brute and unchanging facts, laid out distinctly like elements in the periodic table.
    — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Algorithmic brute force — sending every task to a frontier model — is the most expensive habit in the building.
    — Sumeet Agrawal, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of brute
Adjective
  • San Francisco has already seen right-hander Hayden Birdsong undergo Tommy John surgery earlier this year, and losing McDonald for an extended period of time would be another brutal blow for the pitching staff.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
  • This thing—the military—aims, at least in Harlow’s eyes, to turn boys into tools for brutal battlefield aims.
    — Jasper Craven, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • Maritime travel dispersed rodents and feral pigs across countless island ecosystems.
    — Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • The main threats to the slow-moving species include fires, drought, feral dogs, cats, dingoes and foxes, with three echidna species classified as critically endangered and vulnerable.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of feral
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.

Browse Nearby Words

fer-de-lance
ferine
ferment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ferine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferine. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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