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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fierce different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fierce are barbarous, cruel, ferocious, and savage. While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

Where would barbarous be a reasonable alternative to fierce?

While in some cases nearly identical to fierce, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When is it sensible to use cruel instead of fierce?

The meanings of cruel and fierce largely overlap; however, cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

When would ferocious be a good substitute for fierce?

The synonyms ferocious and fierce are sometimes interchangeable, but ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When can savage be used instead of fierce?

Although the words savage and fierce have much in common, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fierce But amid fierce opposition in the Missouri Senate, whether the bill becomes law remains an open question. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025 Trump says the aircraft is worth $400 million and the assertion has prompted fierce bipartisan pushback. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 The old model of fierce independence is a luxury many can't afford during this transition. Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Tehran claims its program is peaceful but has threatened fierce retaliation and a possible withdrawal from the nonproliferation treaty if its nuclear sites are attacked. Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
  • She and her fellow hybrids are sent to investigate the site, leading to the encounter of mysterious life forms — including one ferocious Xenomorph.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 23 May 2025
  • Both general elections are expected to be competitive, but only the New Jersey Democratic primary has featured ferocious competition out of the four party primaries.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Losing someone the caliber of Soto’s track record stung the Yankees and certainly their fans based on the reaction of an intense Subway Series.
    Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Biden's physical and mental fitness has been the subject of intense scrutiny during and since his time in office, with questions about the former president's age and well-being ultimately forcing him to abandon his 2024 reelection bid.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • The rest of the film takes place in a prison, where Henry’s gruff but philosophical cellmate, Gene (Shia LaBeouf), tries to teach him the ways of the world.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Fimmel digs into the more stereotypical gruff bounty hunter with relish, though the character itself is a western staple.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The 82-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.
    Sam Woodward, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Nonprofits focused on such issues could be seen as antagonistic to the company’s aggressive commercialization efforts.
    Hayden Field, CNBC, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Combs apologized for his violent behavior soon after the video's release.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • For that reason, Torres-Chirinos is also charged with two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful alien.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The pair embark on a playdate at a beachfront promenade before holing up in a foreign hotel to evade an increasingly frantic Lee.
    Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 15 May 2025
  • What followed was a frantic scramble to get the wounded to the nearest hospital.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 13 May 2025
  • With 4 million packages a day passing through American gateways using the de minimis exception, and around half of those shipments hailing from China, CBP is now contending with a much more intensive entry process for small shipments than it’s been accustomed to.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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