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
Journalist and Chapel Hill native Will Blythe aptly summed up UNC’s particularly fierce rivalry with Duke University in a book called To Hate Like This Is To Be Happy Forever.
—
Kelly Alexander, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
But in a twist, the rollout has sparked fierce backlash because OpenAI is also retiring its older AI models, which some users have grown to love.
—PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Meteorologists are tracking three weather systems raging out over the Atlantic this week, amid fears that fierce winds could morph into U.S.-bound hurricanes.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
In the last few years, fierce controversies have often been sparked by commercials, with commentators seemingly viewing ad campaigns as the battleground for a never-ending culture war.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Kelly Alexander, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
But in a twist, the rollout has sparked fierce backlash because OpenAI is also retiring its older AI models, which some users have grown to love.
—PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Meteorologists are tracking three weather systems raging out over the Atlantic this week, amid fears that fierce winds could morph into U.S.-bound hurricanes.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
In the last few years, fierce controversies have often been sparked by commercials, with commentators seemingly viewing ad campaigns as the battleground for a never-ending culture war.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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Typical confusion and disruption for a ferocious Vikings unit led by blitz enthusiast and defensive coordinator Brian Flores, but a shock to the Patriots’ offensive system.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
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Aquaman star Jason Momoa learned that lesson the hard way while attempting a miles-long paddle through ferocious Hawaiian waters and nearly not coming back up.—
Ryan Coleman Published,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The community’s response is intense: panicked and bereaved mothers and fathers turn on Justine, indirectly a victim herself; misguided outrage blinds them to the real menace operating unimpeded in their midst.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
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The race to claim the top seller on iTunes or dominate streaming platforms is intense, with pop, rock, and rap acts all aiming for No. 1 on those platforms.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Faced with this existential crisis, Bull gathers his best pals—Rocco, a gruff boxer (Idris Elba); Lucky, a dopey but loyal beagle (Bobby Moynihan); and Fetch, a wannabe influencer dachshund (Fred Armisen)—for one final night of canine mischief.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Though polar opposites, together, Leonard and Bitchy have seen it all; the gruff Bitchy serves as the play’s agitator, pitting him opposite Leonard, the conscience and Greek chorus.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Potential Fed chair David Zervos backs an aggressive rate cut.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
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The former Calle 13 member impresses her sensitivity to this piece, originally written by Orlando Brito and popularized in 1975 by the great Héctor Lavoe, giving it new life with her powerful, dramatic voice, accompanied by street guitars and harsh, aggressive chords that captivate the listener.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There ended up being a fire in the shop, and police discovered the victims (again, content warning for a violent crime), naked, tied up, burned, shot in the head with at least one of them having been raped.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Shortly thereafter, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections and staged a violent coup to overthrow the Palestinian Authority and seize control of the Strip.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The frantic search for the 34-year-old woman began in April and ended with the discovery of her remains in a narrow space between two buildings in Lakewood, Colo., a suburb of her home city of Denver, on Friday, June 6.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Alongside the frantic rush for textbooks, new stationery, and the last days of summer freedom, students are now having to get to grips with new artificial intelligence tools.—
Dan Fitzpatrick,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 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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Previous reports have noted his intensive training at the WWE Performance Center and his incredible physical transformation.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
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Young’s legacy endures – her school remains a magnet for young performers aged 10 to 16, blending the academic curriculum with intensive training in acting, singing and dance.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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