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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
But this team was special, with a watertight defence combined with a ferocious forward line of Ronaldo (his best goalscoring season for United), Rooney and Tevez.
—
Nick Miller, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
This ferocious, steep-banked corner possesses a wild 24% gradient, a nod to Spain’s bullfighting heritage.
—Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Wolverines are members of the weasel family, like ferrets and badgers, and are known for being ferocious and cunning carnivores.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025
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Tales of gladiators going head-to-head with ferocious lions in ancient Rome’s coliseum are legendary.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Nick Miller, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
This ferocious, steep-banked corner possesses a wild 24% gradient, a nod to Spain’s bullfighting heritage.
—Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Wolverines are members of the weasel family, like ferrets and badgers, and are known for being ferocious and cunning carnivores.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
Tales of gladiators going head-to-head with ferocious lions in ancient Rome’s coliseum are legendary.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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Biden's physical and mental fitness has been the subject of intense scrutiny during and since his time in office, with questions about the former president's age and well-being ultimately forcing him to abandon his 2024 reelection bid.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 May 2025
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Yet the overall focus is on the utopian community orbiting around the intense figurehead.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Their love and fierce loyalty toward one another is a high point of Season 2.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2025
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Johnson’s selection came over the fierce opposition of some of the school’s staunchest supporters, who celebrate FAMU’s legacy of Black excellence, social mobility and cultural pride.—
Kate Payne,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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The pair embark on a playdate at a beachfront promenade before holing up in a foreign hotel to evade an increasingly frantic Lee.—
Todd Gilchrist,
Variety,
15 May 2025
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What followed was a frantic scramble to get the wounded to the nearest hospital.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Ryan Murphy has found his Kennedys after an intensive casting search for the first installment of his new FX anthology series, American Love Story.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 May 2025
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With 4 million packages a day passing through American gateways using the de minimis exception, and around half of those shipments hailing from China, CBP is now contending with a much more intensive entry process for small shipments than it’s been accustomed to.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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For that reason, Torres-Chirinos is also charged with two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful alien.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
16 May 2025
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Some liberal critics on social media say that Republicans did not seem to take issue when the same slogan — or even more violent rhetoric — was targeted at a Democratic president.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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But even when locked in a tense, deadly standoff with the vicious Barbie, Moulin doesn’t break, and his courage and silence helps lead to the liberation of France, while leaving behind a new spirit of strength and resistance.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
10 May 2025
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Bone Tomahawk Year: 2015 Runtime: 2h 11m Director: S. Craig Zahler S. Craig Zahler has become one of the most divisive filmmakers working today after three vicious, brutal movies — Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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Eyewitnesses described furious gales and hurricane-like winds that left an avalanche of debris near the pier.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
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But even with a better offensive night for Jerome, he was still beaten off the dribble too many times and couldn’t stay on the court for that last, furious push.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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