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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
In a crisis, Tori puts those life-saving skills to use, transforming from a frightened and threatened young woman into a fierce warrior.
—
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
My love for my child remained fierce.
—Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Who knows if that trip was key to fewer dams on the river today, but those fierce adversaries shared more river time than our leaders do today.
—Pete McBride, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
The report also confirmed Kim’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, who in recent years has served as his fierce spokesperson toward Washington and Seoul, now serves as the general affairs director of the party’s central committee following a promotion at the congress.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
My love for my child remained fierce.
—Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Who knows if that trip was key to fewer dams on the river today, but those fierce adversaries shared more river time than our leaders do today.
—Pete McBride, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
The report also confirmed Kim’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, who in recent years has served as his fierce spokesperson toward Washington and Seoul, now serves as the general affairs director of the party’s central committee following a promotion at the congress.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
-
It has been loved onto the screen by the ferocious talent of MK, the exceptional executives at HBO and the world-class production team in Wolf Studios Wales, where Bad Wolf has filmed every season.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Luna is in your strict 10th house, motivating ferocious Mars in your committed 6th house.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The mild meats and cheeses should be consumed first, with diners gradually moving on to the most intense ones so as to not overpower the more delicate flavors.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
-
As Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance nears one month, the intense focus on her case is drawing overdue attention to other missing person cases that have long gone unnoticed.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While not gruff or unfriendly, the serious New York restaurateur carries a distinct tone of getting down to business, even when casually chatting about how the show has changed over time.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Over the ensuing decades, Duvall had numerous other memorable turns as tough guys, gruff mentors and men seeking redemption.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The recent turmoil is testing some of the foundations that powered private credit’s rapid growth, including aggressive underwriting, highly leveraged middle-market borrowers and the promise of stable capital insulated from bank-style runs.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Belt-Stubblefield did not take aggressive action and tried to walk away.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In its early days, the UFC was so violent, with almost no rules, that it was effectively exiled to pay-per-view.—
Luke Burbank,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
As the material appears to shift from soft to hard, the outward and downward movements of the tubes no longer suggest the gentle pressure of filling and escaping air, but imply a decidedly more violent bending and crushing of metal, as if the tubes had been pushed out of shape against their will.—
Gordon Hughes,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Put anybody on the spot and ask them to name something quickly, your brain just goes frantic.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In the few short months leading up to its wide release, the filmmakers behind Grey Gardens were in a frantic state of damage control.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Watching Marcia Gay Harden embark on a savage killing spree was not on my cinematic bingo card for 2026.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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Wade Wilson confessed to the savage murders of two women, yet even that brutality failed to repel admirers.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The warnings come as technology companies looking to cash in on the AI boom through aggressive investments in AI infrastructure are straining memory chip inventories, leaving manufacturers in other memory-intensive sectors, like smartphone and PC producers, scrambling to secure chip supplies.—
Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2026
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It can be burnt, much like a fossil fuel, but produces only water as a byproduct, offering a carbon-free solution for energy-intensive applications.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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