ferocious
Americanadjective
-
savagely fierce, as a wild beast, person, action, or aspect; violently cruel.
a ferocious beating.
- Synonyms:
- rapacious
-
extreme or intense.
a ferocious thirst.
adjective
Synonym Usage
See fierce.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ferocious
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin ferōc-, stem of ferōx “savage, fierce” ( fer(us) “wild” ( see feral 1, fierce) + -ōx “having such an appearance”; akin to eye ( def. ), oculus ( def. ), -opsis ) + -ious
Explanation
The adjective ferocious means more than merely angry or active. Picture the wildest, most savage animal you can imagine — it's a ferocious beast. Although we most often think of the word ferocious as referring to wild animals, it can also be used to describe anything characterized by an extremely high level of energy or even violence. For example, you might endure ferocious winds during a hurricane and fans at a soccer match often display a ferocious devotion to their team.
Vocabulary lists containing ferocious
A Wrinkle in Time
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Tangerine
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List 10
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This leads to more sustained droughts in some parts of the planet, and more ferocious storms in others.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
Draper is one of the sport’s most ferocious young talents, considered a challenger to Sinner and Alcaraz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
He was a prodigy armed with a 100 mph fastball, a ferocious slider and a devastating splitter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Armed with ferocious intent and a forward line ravenous for turnover ball, Mayo rattled Kerry during a period when they clawed back from seven points down to revive their hopes.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
What I carried out of Congo on my crooked little back is a ferocious uncertainty about the worth of a life.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
