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
Kirk became known as a fierce ― and controversial ― debater.
—
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
But this year’s edition featured particularly fierce competition particularly in the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship class.
—Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Advertisement After the results of the 2022 elections were announced, some of Bolsonaro’s fiercest supporters, including then-Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira, quickly acknowledged Lula’s victory.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Our fierce clients will continue fighting for their rights in the trial court until justice is served.
—Norma Chavez-Peterson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
But this year’s edition featured particularly fierce competition particularly in the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship class.
—Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Advertisement After the results of the 2022 elections were announced, some of Bolsonaro’s fiercest supporters, including then-Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira, quickly acknowledged Lula’s victory.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Our fierce clients will continue fighting for their rights in the trial court until justice is served.
—Norma Chavez-Peterson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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Just like that, Denver’s ferocious defensive front had turned a go-ahead scoring opportunity for the Titans into a punt.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The conflict in Europe was mirrored by a ferocious debate between scientists and Spiritualists, each side fueled by the pain of their own private losses.—
Alice Vernon
September 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Pyongyang has continued to exercise significant control over the population and severely restrict the rights and freedoms of its population, and that has only gotten more intense over the last decade.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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This question — which strikes at the heart of a perennial issue in American politics, frequently reignited by recurring mass shootings — sparked an intense partisan divide.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
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The barbs were frequently aimed at the gruff owner of Mel’s Diner played by the late Vic Tayback.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Now and in the future In the early days of the Bowman era, the Oilers appear to be more aggressive in looking for talent.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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First, assume that classification will be litigated if the arrangement is aggressive or if the borrower is thinly capitalized.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That act lowered the age at which children who are accused of certain violent crimes can be tried as adults from 16 to 14.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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Just this morning, DHS took violent offenders off the streets with arrests for assault, DUI, and felony stalking.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tasha Williams, mom to a freshman student, said her daughter called about the shooter, frantic and searching for her friend.—
Katie Langford,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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Laura is frantic about saving Daniel after learning Cherry pushed her father from a construction site, fracturing his spine in two places.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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There was a time when loving someone of the wrong gender could result in harassment, arrest or a savage beating.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Advertisement The flurry of updates came three days after Robinson was arrested following an intensive hunt for Kirk's killer.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
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Doing this requires massive system level integration and is resource intensive.—
Thomas Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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