1
as in ferocious
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the Vikings had a well-earned reputation for being fierce warriors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a fierce wind made the frigid temperatures seem even worse
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3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the fierce faces of the players on the opposing hockey team
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4
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
a social reformer of fierce and fearless determination
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5
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
fierce fighting raged in the streets of the war-torn city
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6
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
fierce early-morning trading sent stocks soaring
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fierce
And on Friday night, friendship will give way to fierce competition.
—
Eric Stephens, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
For white dwarfs, this result was unexpected but was quickly attributed to the remains of asteroids torn apart by the dead star’s fierce gravity.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2025
The visit comes days after the billionaire's visit to the Pentagon sparked fierce backlash.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
In the wake of the bridge collapse, the FBI opened a criminal probe, dozens of lawsuits have been filed and both companies affiliated with the ship as well as Maryland state government have faced fierce criticisms.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Eric Stephens, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
For white dwarfs, this result was unexpected but was quickly attributed to the remains of asteroids torn apart by the dead star’s fierce gravity.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2025
The visit comes days after the billionaire's visit to the Pentagon sparked fierce backlash.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
In the wake of the bridge collapse, the FBI opened a criminal probe, dozens of lawsuits have been filed and both companies affiliated with the ship as well as Maryland state government have faced fierce criticisms.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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And yet even the breeziest of Catullus’ occasional poems can suddenly betray flashes of ferocious emotion.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
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In terms of food security, the abundance of the blue catfish available could assist people in need, and on the flipside, rid the bay of a ferocious predator.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The May 1945 bombing came on the heels of another intense U.S. firebombing campaign known as Operation Meetinghouse.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025
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The sun has once again unleashed a powerful solar flare, continuing its streak of intense activity.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This was the puzzle: The Torch and the Treasure A Bridge Puzzle of Strategy, Speed... and Stolen Gold Five daring fantasy thieves—a nimble Elf, a sneaky Goblin, a fleet-footed Satyr, a gruff Dwarf, and a hulking Troll—have just pulled off the heist of the century.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Could this gruff old man playing mahjong in a nondescript hall be a curious gambler on the last boat up the Mekong, laughing in the face of Edward’s existential crisis?—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The two were very aggressive from the start of the fight, with a lot of output.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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There are also more aggressive interventions for people with severe allergies who don’t respond to other medicines like desensitization therapy, also known as allergy shots.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Bravo’s family said the 28-year-old was ending a violent relationship.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Adams said the pair had discussed how to combat violent migrant gangs and embedding more New York Police Department officers into federal task forces.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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When intentionally chosen, the right scent can even shift your mood—lifting you out of a listless haze or helping ease a frantic pace.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, the phone calls for additional funding became more frantic from producers.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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This alarming probability briefly landed the asteroid atop impact risk lists maintained by NASA and the European Space Agency, triggering planetary defense discussions and prompting intensive follow-up observations to refine the object's trajectory.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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If the proposal gets legislative approval in Healey’s roughly $62 billion budget request, the Bay State would lose its only intensive residential treatment program for children between the ages of 6 and 12 who are suffering from suicidal and/or homicidal ideations or other complex needs.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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