ferocious

[ fuh-roh-shuhs ]

adjective

1. savagely fierce, as a wild beast, person, action, or aspect; violently cruel:

   a ferocious beating.

   Synonyms: rapacious

2. extreme or intense:

   a ferocious thirst.

ferocious

/ fəˈrɒsɪtɪ; fəˈrəʊʃəs /

adjective

1. savagely fierce or cruel

   a ferocious argument

   a ferocious tiger

Derived Forms

• ferocity, noun
• feˈrociously, adverb

Other Words From

• fe·rocious·ly adverb
• fe·rocious·ness noun
• nonfe·rocious adjective
• nonfe·rocious·ly adverb
• nonfe·rocious·ness noun
• unfe·rocious adjective
• unfe·rocious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferocious¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin ferōc-, stem of ferōx “savage, fierce” ( fer(us) “wild” ( feral ¹, fierce ) + -ōx “having such an appearance”; akin to eye ( def ), oculus ( def ), -opsis ) + -ious

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferocious¹

C17: from Latin ferox fierce, untamable, warlike

Synonym Study

See fierce.

Example Sentences

It’s anchored by the lead actor, Michael C. Pitt, here ferocious and heart-stabbingly vulnerable in equal proportion.

From New York Times

Ferocious opposition from business interests forced David Weil, an expert in labor law and all the ways employers cheat their workers of wages, to withdraw his name from consideration as head of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times

And then came “Titanic,” which forever proved the ferocious consumer power of young female fans.

From Los Angeles Times

He came to take stock of the damage wrought by 70 days of ferocious Israeli bombardment.

From Los Angeles Times

Among those Epshteyn was alleged to have shaken down was Scott Bessent, whom Trump recently nominated to be treasury secretary after a ferocious selection process.

From Slate

Related Words

• brutal
• brutish
• cruel
• fierce
• frightful
• merciless
• murderous
• ravenous
• relentless
• ruthless
• savage
• vehement
• vicious
• voracious