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
Waves of deadly air strikes by Russia’s Sukhoi and Tupolev jets, working in concert with Iranian and Shiite militias, shifted the momentum on the battlefield, inflicting fierce blows on the rebel forces.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Caruso ran and narrowly lost to Karen Bass in the last election, then became a fierce critic of the mayor — never more so than in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that wiped out the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in early 2025.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Still, the statement that the video was taken down quickly is not entirely true once its obvious depiction got a fierce reception.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Meaning fierce competition is best at reducing prices.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Caruso ran and narrowly lost to Karen Bass in the last election, then became a fierce critic of the mayor — never more so than in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that wiped out the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in early 2025.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Still, the statement that the video was taken down quickly is not entirely true once its obvious depiction got a fierce reception.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Meaning fierce competition is best at reducing prices.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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The press was ferocious and organised, with the number of box entries and chances created being higher than any league performance this season.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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What Lee did not anticipate was the iron resolve, the ferocious tenacity, of the Union defenders.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This looming impasse between baseball and its players’ union stands to make for some intense labor negotiations.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
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Corporate succession has been fraught at Disney — and the subject of intense speculation across Hollywood in recent years.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The characters are well developed and unpredictable—perhaps none more so than John Stone, Nasir’s gruff public-defense attorney.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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Also present was the gruff playwright.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In the meantime, an unstable government could become more rather than less aggressive, not least to keep younger hard-liners from rebelling.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
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Wiener helped push two new California laws last year — the No Secret Police Act and the No Vigilantes Act — in the wake of intense and aggressive immigration enforcement by masked ICE and other federal agents in California and around the country.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Now polling suggests the public, and even Republican leaders in Congress, have stopped buying the White House’s claims that federal agents’ paramilitary-style raids only target violent criminals.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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The takeover of the arts is less violent and a bit more insidious, but just as dangerous in its own right.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But when the music stops, investors will scramble for assets in a frantic game of musical chairs.—
Mikael Johnsson,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
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During the frantic final minutes of the game, Lemont counted on Mikroulis for senior leadership.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Today Iranians are mourning thousands of their fellow citizens who were massacred during savage crackdowns on recent protests in Iran.—
Ramin Jahanbegloo,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
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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
Adjective
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While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The company later focused strictly on music supervision for music-intensive shows such as American Idol, to which Kaye contributed for more than 15 years.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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