fiercely

[feers-lee]

adverb

1. in a menacing, violent, or forceful way.

   The bear stood on his back paws, growling fiercely.

   Currently, some 20 wildfires are raging fiercely through the state.

2. in an eager or intense way.

   Isaiah has developed into a fiercely competitive soccer player.

Other Word Forms

• overfiercely adverb
• unfiercely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fiercely¹

fierce ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Reviews have been mixed, and even some fans have expressed disappointment with the record on social media — a once-unthinkable development among the fiercely loyal Swifties.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Releasing numerous variations of an album has become increasingly popular as artists aim to give their most ardent fans more ways to support them—while also boosting their first-week totals in a fiercely competitive industry.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the fiercely competitive world of video games, it's common for new contenders to fade away as quickly as they burst on to the scene.

Read more on BBC

Now she reads all his scripts and visits often, still fiercely protective of him.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Norwegian committee is appointed by the country's parliament, and although the members – usually retired MPs – fiercely guard their independence, many have strident views.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• angrily 
• boldly 
• brutally www.thesaurus.com
• ferociously www.thesaurus.com
• forcefully www.thesaurus.com
• frantically 
• furiously 
• madly 
• mightily 
• passionately 
• savagely www.thesaurus.com
• severely 
• vehemently 
• viciously www.thesaurus.com
• wildly www.thesaurus.com