1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display
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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
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3
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the animal is known as a ferocious predator
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ferocious
Their final side battle was ferocious and flailing.
—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Milton Friedman And Michael Jensen Milton Friedman launched MSV in 1970 with his ferocious New York Times article.
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Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
So playing characters who were so ferocious and bold and confident and determined and all that helped me profoundly in my personal life.
—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Think of it as the automotive equivalent of the family mastiff—intimidating in appearance, ferocious when required, but great with kids.
—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Milton Friedman And Michael Jensen Milton Friedman launched MSV in 1970 with his ferocious New York Times article.
—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
So playing characters who were so ferocious and bold and confident and determined and all that helped me profoundly in my personal life.
—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Think of it as the automotive equivalent of the family mastiff—intimidating in appearance, ferocious when required, but great with kids.
—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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Katherine Guaramaco described the experience as one of the most intense of her life.
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The president highlighted the military operation in Iran that has proven deeply unpopular, and an immigration agenda that has provoked intense backlash.
Adjective
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The 2023 arrest of her then-10-year-old cousin for urinating in public brought fierce condemnation.
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For a party that prides itself on diversity, the clashes have exacerbated fierce debates over identity politics and long-standing rifts between progressives and moderates.
Adjective
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For my microgeneration, the disillusionment crept in with the savage failure of the Iraq War.
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Set in the fictional lands of Westeros, House of the Dragon depicts a savage succession struggle within House Targaryen and a resulting civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Adjective
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The number of casualties is expected to climb with thousands reported missing and frantic rescue efforts continuing.
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The Chinese color research is being fueled by a frantic trend in its domestic car market where black is definitely this year’s color of choice.
Adjective
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Housed in remote data centers whose energy-intensive maintenance perpetuates the changing environmental conditions that threaten Tuvalu’s existence, the attempt to redeposit territory digitally drives home the paradoxes, and costs, of storage.
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Qatari mediators returned to the Iranian capital for 17 hours of what the diplomat described as intensive negotiations.
Adjective
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The march stems from the violent 1969 police raid of the Stonewall Inn that catalyzed the gay rights movement at a time when many people who were LGBTQIA+ hid their identity.
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Over the years, Hall has responded to emergencies ranging from domestic violence calls to serious violent crimes.
Adjective
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That’s still high, but moves downward mean less chance of a vicious cycle where expectations for higher inflation drive changes in behavior that create higher inflation.
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That’s still high, but moves downward mean less chance of a vicious cycle where expectations for higher inflation drive changes in behavior that create higher inflation.
Adjective
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There was a furious campaign in India, led by the public, the media, and politicians, demanding revenge.
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There are no rookies likely to get that kind of prominence on this year’s Oilers team, but there are young players who will get noticed due to furious forechecking.
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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