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
Starbucks is divesting in China as its market share has declined in recent years due to fierce competition from local coffee chains that offer cheaper products amid an economic slowdown that has changed consumer habits.
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CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Through it all, the debates over what defines the United States have been fierce and sometimes violent.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series, notching back-to-back championships after a fierce battle against the Toronto Blue Jays that came down to a Game 7 that went 11 innings on Saturday night in Toronto.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
The weather that led to that tragedy 50 years ago, the last mass-casualty sinking on the Great Lakes, is a stark warning to the Great Lakes shipping industry and others of the fierce, deadly power that can develop quickly in such November storms.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Through it all, the debates over what defines the United States have been fierce and sometimes violent.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series, notching back-to-back championships after a fierce battle against the Toronto Blue Jays that came down to a Game 7 that went 11 innings on Saturday night in Toronto.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
The weather that led to that tragedy 50 years ago, the last mass-casualty sinking on the Great Lakes, is a stark warning to the Great Lakes shipping industry and others of the fierce, deadly power that can develop quickly in such November storms.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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Just a big ferocious ball of meat, claws, and teeth.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Though the storm did not make a direct hit on Haiti, its ferocious rains caused rivers to flood and jump their banks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The family dynamics of the show hadn’t been seen in any other franchise and made for some strong alliances against other members of the cast, as well as intense drama.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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In an intense Instagram post Thursday, her 44th, the mother of three included various family album style photos over the last few years, plus some words of wisdom.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
31 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 incident comes amid growing scrutiny of the aggressive tactics used by Border Patrol and ICE, including against US citizens.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Chiefs were again aggressive on fourth down — and successful at stopping them, too.—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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With words infallibly falling short, Pritam mingled realism with a fragmentary style of narration that meshes together social encounters, violent episodes, vivid metaphors, disturbing dreams, memories, intimate self-reflections, and introspection on society.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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Once embroiled in conflict, participants and spectators layer on more stories to make sense of their relationship to its violent cauldron.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 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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The warm, relatable territory where the first season ends up doesn’t fully square with the savage satire promised by the pilot.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
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August Strindberg’s savage chamber drama gets transported to Ireland in Liv Ullmann’s sharp, surprisingly suspenseful adaptation.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His label pioneered the industry’s intensive training system, recruiting performers as young as elementary school age and putting them through years of rigorous preparation.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
2 Nov. 2025
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Though similarly intensive, Leni's look provided a stark contrast to mom Heidi’s costume, which leaned more spooky than cute — and took inspiration from an older tale.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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