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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
  • Its style is terse, cool, and detached, presenting warfare as primarily a problem of calculation rather than brute force or individual courage.
    — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Its evolution and that of the surrounding estate have been determined by border disputes between papal states and grand duchies, by World Wars, and, in the second half of the 20th century, by brute economics, industrialization, and urbanization.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of brute
Adjective
  • The Process There are plenty of valid fears that come with going gray and the long, often brutal grow-out process is just one of them.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
  • New Yorkers are in for a brutal weekend filled with heavy rainfall and intense winds as a powerful early-season nor’easter threatens to wallop much of the East Coast.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • Then Leigh noticed a skinny guy clad in a ratty Daniel Johnston T-shirt, his hair a feral mess.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • While there is no state law that prohibits feeding feral cats, there is also no law authorizing it.
    — Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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