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 tiger

   a ferocious argument

Other Word Forms

• ferociously adverb
• ferociousness noun
• nonferocious adjective
• nonferociously adverb
• nonferociousness noun
• unferocious adjective
• unferociously adverb
• ferocity noun

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

But Oscar wasn’t large enough or ferocious enough to kill a deer.

Read more on Literature

Her nightmarish laugh, gravity-defying hairdo and ferocious temper were part of a carefully constructed character that ranks as a comic masterpiece.

Read more on BBC

And their ability to consistently make contact against even the most ferocious pitchers has turned them into the ultimate pests.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At one point, a firefighter was trapped in the structure amid the ferocious blaze and sent out a mayday call.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Skattebo is ferocious, he fights for every single yard, and so much of what Dart brings is belief. His confidence is phenomenal."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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