1
as in ferocious
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the Vikings had a well-earned reputation for being fierce warriors
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2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a fierce wind made the frigid temperatures seem even worse
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3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the fierce faces of the players on the opposing hockey team
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4
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
a social reformer of fierce and fearless determination
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5
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
fierce fighting raged in the streets of the war-torn city
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6
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
fierce early-morning trading sent stocks soaring
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fierce
But car-crash girls are, in fact, fierce in their attachments, devoted to the few people who can penetrate their hard shells.
—
Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
And although specialized solar spacecraft can spot objects so close to the fierce stellar glare, none that are now flying can produce a high-resolution view of the tiny comet.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Who among us doesn’t view themselves as a fierce protector of themselves?
—Colin Fleming, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Or this object, known by the prosaic designation C/2026 A1 (MAPS), could totally disintegrate, vaporized by the fierce heat of our star.
—Tony Hoffman, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
And although specialized solar spacecraft can spot objects so close to the fierce stellar glare, none that are now flying can produce a high-resolution view of the tiny comet.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Who among us doesn’t view themselves as a fierce protector of themselves?
—Colin Fleming, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Or this object, known by the prosaic designation C/2026 A1 (MAPS), could totally disintegrate, vaporized by the fierce heat of our star.
—Tony Hoffman, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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Blown out, extravagant, dripping with ferocious malaise and desperation, but precisely arranged for the maximum possible emotional effect.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Otters are part of the weasel family (Mustelidae), which includes some of nature’s most ferocious pint-sized predators, such as badgers, martens, and wolverines.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Finally, consistent physical activity is more important than intense exercise.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
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The songs on the last few Bon Iver albums often sound like excerpts from a longer dialogue, at turns offhanded and intense, among collaborators.—
Mitch Therieau,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As Liborio, an orphan who risked his life to cross the border and ended up living in the attic of a bookstore thanks to the kindness of the gruff owner, Chief (Eddie Marsan), the actor plays a narrator who consistently breaks the fourth wall.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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As Woody Harrelson detailed Harrison Ford's accomplishments from the Actors Awards stage, the famously gruff actor seemed to squirm in his seat, somehow uncomfortable with praise even at the age of 83.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Orbán's nationalist party has become a model for MAGA populists, particularly for its aggressive stance on immigration.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Florian Wirtz was over aggressive in his initial press and then lacked urgency to help balance out City’s right-side overload, while neither Curtis Jones or Ryan Gravenberch drifted across.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In 2023, a report from the Police Executive Research Forum, a national think tank on policing standards, called for police to put the brakes on car chases unless a violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The enemy was large and violent.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Another camera captures staff realizing what was going on, frantic to stop the patient and to help.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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The rally caps a frantic 24 hours.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.—
Case Thorp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
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The loss of books is minor, almost trivial, in light of all the horrors and violence unleashed by this senseless war, but the potential loss of these books is a sad reminder that we’re all affected and implicated in America’s savage flailings.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But maintaining security over the strait would require a high-risk, resource-intensive operation that could be a yearslong American commitment.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
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The timetable that Kaufmann laid out Wednesday night envisions intensive design work through the end of this year, with construction starting in 2027.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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