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
Through it all, Joseph was by her side, offering steady care, fierce loyalty and unconditional love.
—
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Yet Aldi's growth illustrates the fiercer competition traditional players face as discounters lure away shoppers and win more of their weekly grocery runs.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
The shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, have sparked fierce debates across the nation.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Minnesota has found itself at the epicenter of the political world, reeling from tensions sparked by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman — an incident that renewed fierce debate over immigration, law enforcement and federal overreach.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Yet Aldi's growth illustrates the fiercer competition traditional players face as discounters lure away shoppers and win more of their weekly grocery runs.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
The shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, have sparked fierce debates across the nation.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Minnesota has found itself at the epicenter of the political world, reeling from tensions sparked by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman — an incident that renewed fierce debate over immigration, law enforcement and federal overreach.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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Public reaction to his fraudulence was ferocious.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Maye did make his first ever NFL start last season against Houston, which has become known for having one of the most ferocious defenses in the league.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Show producers in the documentary remember that things got so intense behind the scenes that the shows would even steal guests from each other, going to the hotels where guests stayed during filming to poach them.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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But the process of going through permits and working with the restoration company was intense.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Approved by The Boss himself, the live-music and storytelling show finds Azaria slipping into his best Springsteen guise for a night of gruff tales and greatest hits.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
24 Dec. 2025
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The gory skit ends with the gruff older man rushing through the door to announce he’s made amends with his son, only to have his head sliced off by the flying chainsaw.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Anthony Bernon, 28, said Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about i the aggressive tactics being used by ICE and other federal agencies enforcing immigration policy.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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Reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement going door to door have circulated, and so too have videos alleging profiling based on race and ICE's apparent aggressive tactics.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Safavi said the blackout coincided with violent confrontations in several regions.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Parallel societies in certain urban areas and rising violent crime statistics linked to some migrant cohorts in countries such as Sweden and Germany led to the dramatic rise of populist and patriotic parties across the continent, from France to Italy to the Netherlands.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As the family's frantic search begins, the media is quick to point the finger at Marissa and her friend, Jenny Kaminski (Elle Fanning), whose nanny, Carrie Finch (Sophia Lillis), becomes the prime suspect.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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The dialogue is rooted in these testimonies, capturing the authentic prayers, words of comfort, and frantic internal debates that occurred as the staff navigated the complex military and bureaucratic hurdles required to dispatch an ambulance.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Sons of Anarchy was praised for its stellar writing, operatic plotting, and cast of actors who breathed vivid life into their characters, giving even the most savage moments a dose of humanity.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
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This league is a savage league.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Bringing that experience to the screen required intensive work with the film’s young leads, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
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When Indiana decided to build a water-intensive tech park in Lebanon — a city unable to provide the resource itself — the question of how the area would get water was inevitable.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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