fierce

[feers]

adjective

fiercer, fiercest 

1. menacingly wild, savage, or hostile.

   fierce animals;

   a fierce look.

   Synonyms: murderous, bloodthirsty, barbarous, brutal, fell, cruel
   Antonyms: mild, tame

2. violent in force, intensity, etc..

   fierce winds.

   Synonyms: passionate, furious, turbulent

3. furiously eager or intense.

   fierce competition.

   Synonyms: turbulent, passionate, furious

4. extremely bad or severe.

   a fierce cold.

fierce

/ fɪəs /

adjective

1. having a violent and unrestrained nature; savage

   a fierce dog

2. wild or turbulent in force, action, or intensity

   a fierce storm

3. vehement, intense, or strong

   fierce competition

4. informal,  very disagreeable or unpleasant

Other Word Forms

• fiercely adverb
• fierceness noun
• overfierce adjective
• unfierce adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fierce¹

First recorded in 1300–1350; from Middle English fiers, fers, from Old French fiers, fers, from Latin ferus “wild, fierce”; feral ¹, ferocious

Word History and Origins

Origin of fierce¹

C13: from Old French fiers , from Latin ferus

Synonym Study

Fierce, ferocious, truculent suggest vehemence and violence of temper, manner, or action: fierce in repelling a foe. Ferocious implies fierceness or cruelty, especially of a bloodthirsty kind, in disposition or action: a ferocious glare; ferocious brutality toward helpless refugees. Truculent suggests an intimidating or bullying fierceness of manner or conduct: His truculent attitude kept them terrified and submissive.

Example Sentences

The problem is that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are engaged in a fierce rivalry for influence across the Arab world, including countries such as Yemen and Syria, as well as Sudan.

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In the rugged Appalachian hills of West Virginia, five hours west of the nation’s capital, fierce community bonds and family ties define life.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She represented her Montana district with a fierce devotion to her ideals.

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The German car sector is in crisis, faced with the costs of ramping up investment into EVs as well as increasingly fierce Chinese competition that is biting into sales.

Read more on Barron's

Additionally, as they have discovered, some of the actions they do take are met with fierce resistance from their own supporters.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• angry 
• bold 
• brutal 
• cutthroat 
• dangerous 
• ferocious 
• fiery 
• furious 
• intense 
• murderous 
• passionate 
• powerful 
• raging www.thesaurus.com
• relentless 
• savage 
• stormy 
• strong 
• terrible 
• vehement 
• vicious