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

Price competition can be ferocious: Plans are displayed side-by-side online, and consumers routinely switch carriers to save a few dollars.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The All Blacks' attack was ferocious, Wales unable to get out of their half.

Read more on Barron's

The recent fire could have been much bigger and more ferocious.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The ferocious action lived up to the hype of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent memory.

Read more on BBC

Together they gazed upon the dead tiger, with its ferocious teeth and flaring nostrils.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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