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ferocious

[ fuh-roh-shuhs ]
/ fəˈroʊ ʃəs /
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See synonyms for: ferocious / ferociously / ferociousness on Thesaurus.com
adjective
savagely fierce, as a wild beast, person, action, or aspect; violently cruel: a ferocious beating.
extreme or intense: a ferocious thirst.
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Origin of ferocious

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin ferōc-, stem of ferōx “savage, fierce” (fer(us) “wild” (see feral1, fierce) + -ōx “having such an appearance”; akin to eye, oculus, -opsis) + -ious

synonym study for ferocious

1. See fierce.

OTHER WORDS FROM ferocious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to ferocious

brutal, brutish, cruel, fierce, frightful, merciless, murderous, ravenous, relentless, ruthless, savage, vehement, vicious, voracious, barbarous, bloodthirsty, fell, feral, grim, implacable

How to use ferocious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ferocious

ferocious
/ (fəˈrəʊʃəs) /
adjective
savagely fierce or cruela ferocious tiger; a ferocious argument

Derived forms of ferocious

ferociously, adverbferocity (fəˈrɒsɪtɪ) or ferociousness, noun

Word Origin for ferocious

C17: from Latin ferox fierce, untamable, warlike
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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