Thesaurus

ferocious

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of ferocious

1 extreme in degree, power, or effect

the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display

Synonyms of ferocious

acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intense, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent

Words Related to ferocious

accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened

emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified

exhaustive, thorough

harsh, rigorous, severe

Near Antonyms of ferocious

shallow, superficial

moderated, qualified

alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down)

abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued

Antonyms of ferocious

light, moderate, soft

2 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity

ferocious forest fires threatened to destroy hundreds of homes in the scrubland

Synonyms of ferocious

bang-bang, blood-and-guts, convulsive, cyclonic, explosive, fierce, furious, hammer-and-tongs, hot, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), paroxysmal, rabid, rough, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, violent, volcanic

Words Related to ferocious

barbarous, brutal, savage, vicious

antagonistic, hostile

aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, gladiatorial, pugnacious, quarrelsome, truculent

combustible, volatile

agitated, frantic, frenzied, mad

cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), destructive, ruinous

Near Antonyms of ferocious

calm, halcyon, pacific, serene, tranquil

nonbelligerent, unaggressive

Antonyms of ferocious

nonviolent, peaceable, peaceful

3 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition

the animal is known as a ferocious predator

Synonyms of ferocious

fell, fierce, grim, savage, vicious

Words Related to ferocious

argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, belligerent, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, scrappy, warlike

bare-knuckle (also bare-knuckled), blood-and-guts, in-your-face, take-no-prisoners

contentious, quarrelsome, truculent

menacing, threatening

bestial, brute, inhuman, inhumane

barbaric, uncivilized, wild

heartless, implacable, merciless, pitiless, relentless, ruthless, unrelenting, wanton

bloodthirsty, bloody, homicidal, murdering, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine

rapacious, ravenous, voracious

Near Antonyms of ferocious

amicable, companionable, comradely, congenial, cordial, friendly, genial, hearty, warm, warmhearted

compliant, submissive, tame

benign, compassionate, kind, merciful

pacific, peaceable, peaceful

amiable, complaisant, obliging

civilized, cultured

Antonyms of ferocious

gentle, mild, unaggressive

4 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

Synonyms of ferocious

delirious, feverish, fierce, frantic, frenetic, frenzied, furious, mad, rabid, violent, wild

Words Related to ferocious

concentrated, high-pressured, intense, intensive, vehement

excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate, lavish, overmuch, overweening, unconscionable, undue

crazed, crazy, demented, deranged, insane, irrational, lunatic, mad, maniacal (also maniac)

Near Antonyms of ferocious

calm, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, subdued, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, untroubled

moderate, reasonable, temperate

casual, easygoing, low-pressure

balanced, sane, sound

Antonyms of ferocious

Synonym Discussion of ferocious

fierce, ferocious, barbarous, savage, cruel mean showing fury or malignity in looks or actions. fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

- fierce warriors

ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

- a ferocious dog

barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

- barbarous treatment of prisoners

savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

- a savage criminal

cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

- the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Learn More about ferocious

See words that rhyme with ferocious Dictionary: Definition of ferocious Spanish Central: Translation of ferocious Nglish: Translation of ferocious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ferocious for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ferocious? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

brouhaha

a state of commotion or excitement

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games