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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as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)
the fierceness of her denial prompted many people to wonder if maybe she was innocent after all
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fierce
Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
And while her approach to motherhood is very different than Rose — the ultimate showbiz matriarch, who will do anything to make her daughter a Vaudeville star — McDonald still connects deeply with the character’s fierce love and fierce ambition.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 27 May 2025
When a man comes to the reservation to forcibly take Reuben to the government school where Indian children are stripped of their culture, the boys’ strong, fierce mother tells them to run.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
Their love and fierce loyalty toward one another is a high point of Season 2.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Adjective
Despite their fierce appearances, many of the barbers who work at Liem’s shops are soft-spoken and humble and reject any perceptions of violence and crime.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
And while her approach to motherhood is very different than Rose — the ultimate showbiz matriarch, who will do anything to make her daughter a Vaudeville star — McDonald still connects deeply with the character’s fierce love and fierce ambition.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 27 May 2025
When a man comes to the reservation to forcibly take Reuben to the government school where Indian children are stripped of their culture, the boys’ strong, fierce mother tells them to run.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
Their love and fierce loyalty toward one another is a high point of Season 2.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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America, then, was visible to Fuller as the ferocious winds destroyed the vessel.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
-
The Thunder are deep, play ferocious defense and have a star in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who embraces the big moment.—
Bob Harkins,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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But Tranter and Bartlett said Trump may settle roughly into this range of having an approval rating between 43 percent and 47 percent given the intense polarization of the country, as has been common in the past couple administrations.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
31 May 2025
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The auto-revive for solo players on Night Lords is to combat the intense difficulties of those fights where a single wrong move can be death.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor From 2014-2017, a gruff and action-ready Peter Capaldi shredded an electric guitar through the TARDIS.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2025
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Over a four-decade career that began with a role on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Lyonne has become known for portraying characters that are gruff but likable, hard-nosed but sympathetic.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Addressing the Obvious Critiques Yes, 3–4% real growth is aggressive.—
Don Muir,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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After the aggressive animal showed no signs of leaving, the woman’s boyfriend fatally shot it, officials said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Noni finds herself up against Lion’s violent henchmen and women in series of fight-to-the-death encounters aboard the tyrant’s grandiose sailing ship, which lies at the heart of a vast naval fleet.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
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The protests had been largely peaceful throughout Friday and Saturday, with isolated instances of violent activity.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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While there have been phone calls between the two, the handshake accompanied by the frantic clicks of camera shutters will mark the start of the new German-US relationship.—
Sebastian Shukla,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
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Irritatingly, my frantic battle to do so is not sufficiently compelling to warrant further description.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Try and enjoy the stress and intensity of this moment.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
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Both services use data from NASA’s DSCOVR and ACE satellites, which orbit about a million miles out and measure the solar wind’s speed and magnetic intensity.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
4 June 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
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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