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
Despite Gulf states’ efforts to avoid a regional conflict, the US – alongside Israel – launched a war against Iran, triggering ferocious retaliatory attacks across the Gulf and forcing regional governments to confront once again the question of what American protection really means.
—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
In the film’s ferocious climax, Jim is shot but escapes with Selena and Hannah, and the story closes (28 days later) back in the countryside as a jet flies over and augurs their rescue.
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
That triggered an Israeli response, culminating in a ferocious campaign that felled much of Hezbollah’s leadership.
—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Their final side battle was ferocious and flailing.
—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
In the film’s ferocious climax, Jim is shot but escapes with Selena and Hannah, and the story closes (28 days later) back in the countryside as a jet flies over and augurs their rescue.
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
That triggered an Israeli response, culminating in a ferocious campaign that felled much of Hezbollah’s leadership.
—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Their final side battle was ferocious and flailing.
—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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Indie Shakes managing director David Melville distills his production around scenes of intense conflict.
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As the planet warms, extreme heat events are becoming more common, intense and long-lasting.
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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The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
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Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
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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This vicious machine chewed him up and spit him out in predictable fashion.
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The mood changed a bit when Tab Ramos took a vicious elbow to the side of his head and fractured his skull.
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 2 Jul. 2026.
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