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

• fierceness noun
• fiercely adverb
• 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

Besides USC and MIT, the compact has been the subject of fierce debate at several other campuses that received it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The bill, which narrowly passed the state’s Democratic-led legislature last month, triggered fierce opposition from Los Angeles and other coastal cities, where housing prices are among the nation’s highest.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But, for now, he remains an ally of the Venezuelan opposition and a fierce opponent of Maduro.

Read more on BBC

I watched helplessly in the early 1990s as dementia consumed the fierce intellect that defined my grandmother.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At Dartmouth College, another of the schools invited to join the compact, President Sian Beilock wrote that she is “deeply committed to Dartmouth’s academic mission and values and will always defend our fierce independence.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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