1
as in ferocious
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the Vikings had a well-earned reputation for being fierce warriors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a fierce wind made the frigid temperatures seem even worse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the fierce faces of the players on the opposing hockey team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
a social reformer of fierce and fearless determination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
fierce fighting raged in the streets of the war-torn city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
fierce early-morning trading sent stocks soaring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fierce
But amid fierce opposition in the Missouri Senate, whether the bill becomes law remains an open question.
—
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
Trump says the aircraft is worth $400 million and the assertion has prompted fierce bipartisan pushback.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The old model of fierce independence is a luxury many can't afford during this transition.
—Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Tehran claims its program is peaceful but has threatened fierce retaliation and a possible withdrawal from the nonproliferation treaty if its nuclear sites are attacked.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
Trump says the aircraft is worth $400 million and the assertion has prompted fierce bipartisan pushback.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The old model of fierce independence is a luxury many can't afford during this transition.
—Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Tehran claims its program is peaceful but has threatened fierce retaliation and a possible withdrawal from the nonproliferation treaty if its nuclear sites are attacked.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
-
She and her fellow hybrids are sent to investigate the site, leading to the encounter of mysterious life forms — including one ferocious Xenomorph.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
-
Both general elections are expected to be competitive, but only the New Jersey Democratic primary has featured ferocious competition out of the four party primaries.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
But Tranter and Bartlett said Trump may settle roughly into this range of having an approval rating between 43 percent and 47 percent given the intense polarization of the country, as has been common in the past couple administrations.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
31 May 2025
-
Residents of Maoming, China were treated to a celestial light show earlier this week when a surprise fireball burst to life overhead, illuminating the city before disappearing in an intense flare of light.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor From 2014-2017, a gruff and action-ready Peter Capaldi shredded an electric guitar through the TARDIS.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2025
-
Over a four-decade career that began with a role on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Lyonne has become known for portraying characters that are gruff but likable, hard-nosed but sympathetic.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Nonprofits focused on such issues could be seen as antagonistic to the company’s aggressive commercialization efforts.—
Hayden Field,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
-
The 82-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
The prosecution appears poised to use Combs' feud with Knight, as well as another series of encounters with rapper Kid Cudi, as demonstrative of a violent streak.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
-
Yet the Brazilian proceeded to show how Pereira’s faith was misplaced, first with a stroppy performance at Chelsea that prompted his head coach to publicly criticise his body language and then with his second violent meltdown of the season, against Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in the FA Cup.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
There's no need for a language barrier to cause a frantic rush to cram in the language a week before your trip.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
-
There are unexpected movements, too, plus frantic activity between the more than 20 frames that surround the stage.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
With 4 million packages a day passing through American gateways using the de minimis exception, and around half of those shipments hailing from China, CBP is now contending with a much more intensive entry process for small shipments than it’s been accustomed to.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
13 May 2025
-
The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share