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
Roca—with his pants torn and blood showing through—returns to fight and ultimately brings the bull down with one fierce thrust, leaving the sword in its back.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
Yet the stock has taken a beating in recent weeks due to fierce competition from JD.com, another e-commerce giant.
—Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 23 June 2025
Take a look back at the timeline of the Disney princesses and see how the once-damsels-in-distress have magically transformed into today's fiercest leaders.
—EW.com, 23 June 2025
Each established himself as a fierce competitor and leader.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
Yet the stock has taken a beating in recent weeks due to fierce competition from JD.com, another e-commerce giant.
—Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 23 June 2025
Take a look back at the timeline of the Disney princesses and see how the once-damsels-in-distress have magically transformed into today's fiercest leaders.
—EW.com, 23 June 2025
Each established himself as a fierce competitor and leader.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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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
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The game needed overtime — the third game that went beyond regulation in the first four contests of the series — because Edmonton mounted a ferocious comeback after falling into a three-goal first period deficit.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Moster has long been a target of intense scorn in the Orthodox world.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
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Beijing is also working to draw Europe closer as the continent faces intense pressure from Washington; for example, China has lifted sanctions on members of the European Parliament and dangled other concessions ahead of an EU-Chinese summit scheduled for July 2025.—
Oriana Skylar Mastro,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Eric Bauman, a gruff and tireless political operative who led two of California’s most powerful Democratic organizations before resigning amid misconduct allegations, died Monday.—
Laura J. Nelson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
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Cross-examination from the defense’s gruff Xavier Donaldson will continue first thing Tuesday when the trial picks up again.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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But the Cubs and Yankees will likely be much more aggressive in pursuing him than the Brewers will.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
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Cross-examination of the victims’ two surviving roommates will likely be aggressive, especially of Dylan Mortensen.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Swart said another giveaway is the hotel accommodations that are arranged for violent rioters.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
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Newsom and Trump have sparred over the California protests after the president federalized National Guard troops, arguing local officials were not doing enough to quell demonstrations that at times grew violent, though most protesters were peaceful.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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And when Paul manages to elude his overseers and explore the surrounding area — spurring a frantic search, the menacing tenor of which raises Lise’s hackles — the movie effectively becomes a prison drama, with the trio’s eventual interviewee depicted as a shadowy warden who can decide their fate.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
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When Nemo strays away from his reef and gets lost in the big open ocean, his frantic father teams up with the ever-forgetful Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) to find him.—
Meg Walters,
EW.com,
19 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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Meta is also making major investments in geothermal technology as a less fossil fuel–intensive way to generate power.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
19 June 2025
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Apex scavengers are disproportionately affected by activities like intensive livestock production, land use changes and the wildlife trade.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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