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
The shelter had initially been targeted for a July 2025 opening, and has encountered fierce resistance from parts of the West Roxbury community since the state first began sharing its intention to house homeless families there last spring.
—
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
One of the miracles of the fire is that the cedars did survive, mostly intact except for a few limbs that were broken in the fierce winds.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
In early September, transit officials in North Carolina released graphic video footage showing the fatal stabbing of Zarutska, which prompted fierce backlash against city and state officials.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
One of the miracles of the fire is that the cedars did survive, mostly intact except for a few limbs that were broken in the fierce winds.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
In early September, transit officials in North Carolina released graphic video footage showing the fatal stabbing of Zarutska, which prompted fierce backlash against city and state officials.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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Andrew Garfield leads the feature that is now in production, portraying the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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While there are plenty of realistic iterations featuring ferocious teeth and claws, there are also a wide variety of friendly figurines and plushies.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The intense taste and smell can make this tonic hard to stomach.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
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Part of what spurred intense interest, according to sources, was the success of Weapons, Zach Cregger’s summer horror hit.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But encounters with the island’s residents, including with his gruff but warm-hearted landlady (played by German screen legend Hanna Schygulla), gradually alter his outlook.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Dallas Cowboys and team owner Jerry Jones have been very interested in the idea of getting aggressive ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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Unlike their alligator cousins, which are known to occasionally attack people, American crocodiles are shyer and less aggressive.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Once again, the debate in the book is not over whether or not people should be violent.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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As a result, many legends are connected to its violent past, and its dungeon, in particular, is said to be haunted by tortured souls.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Alongside Idris as the president, the lead ensemble cast of increasingly frantic White House officials, security advisors and senior military figures includes the likes of Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Jason Clarke and Tracy Letts.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
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The Broncos have had to open their season on the opposite side of the country the past two years — a frantic 56-45 win at Georgia Southern last year and a 34-7 loss to South Florida in August.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Rader’s double life as a doting father and savage murderer is the subject of the new Netflix documentary My Father, the BTK Killer, based on his daughter Kerri Rawson’s search to make sense of the secret double life her father hid from his family.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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The ensuing carnage was swift and savage.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Gómez took the 5-day trip to Mexico City as a brief respite before starting intensive training to care for Noah at his home in New York City.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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And the side hustle is time-intensive.—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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