fierceness

[ feers-nis ]

noun

1. a menacingly wild, savage, or hostile quality or character:

   In spite of the fierceness of the enemy barrage, the line was made secure.

   After many threats, he rushed at me with the fierceness of a wolf.

2. violent force, intensity, etc.:

   Already the sudden storm is passing, and its fierceness is abating.

3. furious eagerness or intensity of emotion, etc.:

   As I read her novel my heart was moved by the fierceness of her love for humanity.

4. the quality of being extremely bad or severe:

   Only by the fifth day, when the fierceness of the headache started to decrease, was she able to move normally again.

Other Words From

• o·ver·fierce·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fierceness¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; fierce ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

This division has made partisan fights about Covid-19 especially fierce and consequential, particularly between Democratic leaders, including Evers, and Republican leaders in charge of the state’s Assembly and Senate.

From Vox

We have to learn to hear criticism and fierce debate without thinking it’s a bad thing but rather could lead to compromise and consensus.

From Voice of San Diego

An advocate of progressive, socially-minded economic policies, Reich is a fierce critic of unfettered free-market capitalism, which he believes has yielded the heightened economic inequality plaguing the United States today.

From Fortune

If he’s successful, HBO Max’s competition will become even fiercer.

From Fortune

Airborne transmission has become a topic of fierce contention, partly because it makes it far riskier to reopen spaces like restaurants, gyms, bars, schools, and offices.

From MIT Technology Review

The local police have praised the women for fighting back and said their fierceness kept the assaults from moving further.

From The Daily Beast

I asked Tsukerman why the 1980s were back with such fierceness, and why all of these remakes were being made.

From The Daily Beast

At Wimbledon a few years back, I was struck again by the fierceness of their presence, both on and off the court.

From The Daily Beast

I loved how I could hear that fierceness in tone in advance of literal understanding.

From The Daily Beast

With time, the fierceness and the collective sweetness that underscored it grew more intelligible.

From The Daily Beast

On his loins was a lion of great fierceness, and coiled round his waist was a hissing mamba (snake).

From Project Gutenberg

Upon her Kerry directed a look from which all fierceness had been effaced, and which expressed only an undying admiration.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a startling fierceness in the voice of the trooper that reached to the heart, even amid the horrors of the cottage.

From Project Gutenberg

Moore, we are told by Napier, "maintained the right with vehemence bordering upon fierceness."

From Project Gutenberg

On top of all a huge fire was built, and maintained with great fierceness for about two hours.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• wildness