ferocity

noun

Definition of ferocitynext
as in brutality
a very fierce or violent quality; the quality or state of being ferocious the ferocity of the attack The ferocity of the backlash took them by surprise.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ferocity The Chicago native — who in recent years has faced backlash over his antisemitic remarks — removed his mask and continued to perform with seemingly more ferocity than his own recent headlining concerts. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026 His memories of it are shaped by the ferocity of the terraces. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Brown, 29, is as famous for his off-court fearlessness as his on-court ferocity. — David Katz, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026 But the ferocity of the strikes do not compare to the early days of the war when Iran launched hundreds of rockets and drones on regional targets, including Israel, heavily disrupting livelihoods and inflicting damage on stable countries. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ferocity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocity
  1. brutality
  2. cruelty
  3. ferociousness
  4. fierceness
  5. murderousness
Noun
  • Dupuy-Spencer had a reputation for clear-eyed renderings of both the tenderness and the brutality of our world; here, darker forces prevail.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • However, Gates, who resigned in the wake of the 1992 LA Riots, was also viewed as leaving a legacy of police brutality and racial tension.
    — Tom Wait, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of brutality
Noun
  • Orange County prosecutors also charged Nguyen with animal cruelty and animal abuse by a caretaker, both felonies, and a sentencing enhancement alleging the personal use of a weapon.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
  • What readers are saying The comments express outrage and sadness over the cruelty inflicted on kittens, with many calling for harsher penalties for animal abuse.
    — Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of cruelty
Noun
  • The ferociousness of the defending champs can be, has been, overwhelming for most.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 19 May 2026
  • Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.
    — Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Definition of ferociousness
Noun
  • Curled up in a chair on the top floor of The Times’ offices in El Segundo, looking down on the runways of LAX boiling in the late July sun, Williams gives runway fierceness against the beige office walls.
    — Maureen Lee Lenker, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The actress cranked the fierceness all the way up while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 30.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 July 2026
Definition of fierceness
Noun
  • The guy was a sleaze, but there’s a pretty big gap between sleaziness and murderousness.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Definition of murderousness

Browse Nearby Words

ferociousness
ferocity
ferret
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ferocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocity. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cockamamie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All