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
Meanwhile, many young workers face grueling hours, stagnant wages and fierce jobs competition, leaving little time or energy for family life.
—
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Beginning with 2010's Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, MacLean declared herself a fierce and intoxicating voice in the genre, writing swoony books that deliver on the promise of the genre's feminism and happy endings.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 16 July 2025
For years, the musician has been a fierce climate advocate.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 15 July 2025
Beginning with five pairs who choose to couple up, the show then sees the islanders through eight weeks of fierce competition as bombshells enter the villa and games are played to see who will leave the villa as the strongest couple.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Beginning with 2010's Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, MacLean declared herself a fierce and intoxicating voice in the genre, writing swoony books that deliver on the promise of the genre's feminism and happy endings.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 16 July 2025
For years, the musician has been a fierce climate advocate.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 15 July 2025
Beginning with five pairs who choose to couple up, the show then sees the islanders through eight weeks of fierce competition as bombshells enter the villa and games are played to see who will leave the villa as the strongest couple.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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On the wall behind her, Gauguin has painted glyphs like those discovered on Easter Island, and a masked female figure, ferocious and bare-breasted.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
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Last time around, the titular Addams Family member, portrayed by Jenna Ortega, saved Nevermore by solving the mystery of the Hyde’s identity and putting a stop to the ferocious creature.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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The finish is long and intense, with lingering orchard fruits and spices.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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People should avoid long and intense outdoor activity and stay inside when possible, NWS advises.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Audiences can often sense the corporate overlords’ gruff hands pushing these previously distinct programs together.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 July 2025
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On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick’s gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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And signs have emerged that the White House may be misreading Trump’s election mandate and the political moment, with new polls showing public sentiment turning nationwide on the president’s increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
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Putin would hit them through relentless cyber attacks and increasingly aggressive military moves on their borders.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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The two got married, had a baby, and started a quiet life together far away from his violent past.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
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As droves of tourists continue to flock to Spain for European summer vacations, the nation’s emergency responders are dealing with the aftermath of a violent wave of flash flooding in nearly half of the country’s 50 provinces.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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For Bertram, whose family winery has roots deep in the terraced vineyards of the valley, the night was a blur of frantic decisions and terrifying uncertainty.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
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Huntington Park High School Principal Carlos Garibaldi was preparing to host a graduation on his campus when frantic colleagues radioed him: Immigration is coming.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 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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An intensive moisturiser that delivers maximum hydration, Revision’s DermProtect Barrier Defense™ also replenishes natural lipids, and enhances moisture retention.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
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The military would prefer to focus on managing ever-growing threats from satellites, an intensive effort that requires continual monitoring as other nations' increasingly sophisticated spacecraft maneuver from one orbit to another.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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