fierceness

[feers-nis]

noun

1. a menacingly wild, savage, or hostile quality or character.

   In spite of the fierceness of the enemy barrage, the line was made secure.

   After many threats, he rushed at me with the fierceness of a wolf.

2. violent force, intensity, etc..

   Already the sudden storm is passing, and its fierceness is abating.

3. furious eagerness or intensity of emotion, etc..

   As I read her novel my heart was moved by the fierceness of her love for humanity.

4. the quality of being extremely bad or severe.

   Only by the fifth day, when the fierceness of the headache started to decrease, was she able to move normally again.

Other Word Forms

• overfierceness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fierceness¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; fierce ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Related Words

• wildness www.thesaurus.com