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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
  • When everything changed, as the dust literally settled on the most brutal terror attack on United States soil, the prevailing impulse among NFL owners was to play the games.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The cuts and the freezing of public funding for the film industry have been brutal for Argentine cinema.
    — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • Such contradictions, that cats can be both domesticated and yet somewhat feral, is part of their appeal, says comedian Drennon Davis, whose four cats have found internet fame via his short-form videos.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • After that feral beginning, the rest of the album is mostly contemplative, wistful, and understated, amid cascading guitars and various sounds that are at times acoustic or gently swirling.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 25 Aug. 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 17 Sep. 2026.

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