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 Iran has warned of a far more ferocious response if Israel does not back down.
—
/ Cbs News, CBS News, 15 June 2025
The Cairo giant, established as a counter to British colonial rule in 1907, is a rival to Zamalek, with the pair cooking up one of the most ferocious soccer derbies anywhere.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Kate and Claire end up in a ferocious fight that results in the daughter angrily driving away and the mother shaken to her core.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
He’s been on a like-a-hurricane live roll lately with his ferocious new band the Chrome Hearts, who make their studio debut on Talkin to the Trees.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
/ Cbs News, CBS News, 15 June 2025
The Cairo giant, established as a counter to British colonial rule in 1907, is a rival to Zamalek, with the pair cooking up one of the most ferocious soccer derbies anywhere.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Kate and Claire end up in a ferocious fight that results in the daughter angrily driving away and the mother shaken to her core.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
He’s been on a like-a-hurricane live roll lately with his ferocious new band the Chrome Hearts, who make their studio debut on Talkin to the Trees.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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There were times when the twin drama got too intense.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
-
Moster has long been a target of intense scorn in the Orthodox world.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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The Supreme Court cases that set off the fiercest conflicts among the justices aren’t always the hot-button ones.—
Dan McLaughlin,
National Review,
25 June 2025
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And competition is fierce: Waymo has elite tech, Amazon’s Zoox is quietly advancing, and China’s Baidu is pushing fast in its home market.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
24 June 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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Back in ‘96 in Vegas, after shots were fired, Knight — bleeding from his scalp — made a frantic U-turn and headed west at a high speed toward Las Vegas Boulevard.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
1 July 2025
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Keeping them leashed up with a comfortable harness may prevent a sudden chase after wildlife, which could in turn lead to a fall, a frantic search, or a wild animal attack.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside Online,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Oftentimes, enrolling in an intensive language program qualifies someone for a student visa, depending on the requirements of that country (more on that later).—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
27 June 2025
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Designed to withstand intensive training, Lacoste’s abrasion-resistant piqué fabric is made with Ultra Dry moisture-wicking technology for more breathable wear.—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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On June 25, Monroe officers used a drone to track down a violent offender who had fled into a wooded area, police said.—
Maia Nehme,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
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Before long, his life is plagued by a series of mysterious, sinister incidents that threaten to upend his success and bring about a most violent demise.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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This approach costs three times more than housing people and creates a vicious cycle — incarceration increases homelessness risk by destroying community connections and employment prospects.—
Mahdi E Diab,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
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Of course, no conversation about Yellowjackets season 3 would be complete without a deep dive into Shauna's vicious throw down with Swank's Melissa — during which Shauna rips a chunk of flesh off Melissa's arm with her teeth and forces her to eat it.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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River had Gonzalo Montiel sent off at the death for a second yellow card as the match ended with Inter players running off the pitch showered by items from the stands and followed by a furious Marcos Acuna until he was restrained by team-mates.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
25 June 2025
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Employees, terrified and furious, call out to the agents.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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