1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display
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2
as in fierce
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
ferocious forest fires threatened to destroy hundreds of homes in the scrubland
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3
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
the animal is known as a ferocious predator
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4
as in frantic
marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity
after a day of ferocious up-and-down trading, the stock market ended up down 300 points
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ferocious
Travel conditions this weekend will also be less than ideal as a result of the ferocious storm, especially on Sunday, when it is expected to snow the hardest.
—
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Roman’s play-calling during the wild-card game came under intense scrutiny as the Chargers struggled to adapt offensively against a Patriots defense that unleashed a ferocious pass rush, giving up only a field goal.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026
Exactly eleven years ago this month, Syrian Kurdish forces finally broke a ferocious, months-long siege by ISIS of the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani on the border with Turkey.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
During a childhood fight, Aemond had his eye cut out by Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys and stole her family’s ferocious, powerful red dragon Vhagar.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Roman’s play-calling during the wild-card game came under intense scrutiny as the Chargers struggled to adapt offensively against a Patriots defense that unleashed a ferocious pass rush, giving up only a field goal.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026
Exactly eleven years ago this month, Syrian Kurdish forces finally broke a ferocious, months-long siege by ISIS of the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani on the border with Turkey.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
During a childhood fight, Aemond had his eye cut out by Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys and stole her family’s ferocious, powerful red dragon Vhagar.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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Many Olympians—Nordic skiers, for instance—pay a lot of attention to a measure called their VO2 max—the highest volume of oxygen your body can consume and use during a minute of intense exercise.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
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Valentine’s Day in a first teen relationship should feel simple, sweet, and age-appropriate, not intense or pressured.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Kam and O'Shea exceeded all expectations with a performance characterized by spectacular lifts and fierce musicality.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
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Then, in the middle of a fierce snowstorm, a skinny little girl and her dog show up at the resort.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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On his second, Dominique pulled off a savage windmill, the same dunk that had earned a perfect score the year before and won him the title.—
Kevin Sherrington
Feb. 10,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Meantime, outflows both from both software and crypto (an asset class most correlated with unprofitable tech stocks) grew excessive until the savage software/bitcoin selloff hit an extreme Thursday, when money came sloshing in to catch the falling knives.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Maya is frantic, given that this is her boss’ car.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
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Despite first gaining notoriety as a frantic comedy YouTuber, the singer has spent most of the last decade as a purveyor of somber alt-R&B.—
Mehan Jayasuriya,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Members provide intensive mentoring, conflict mediation, case management, and connections to job training and mental health services to people at the highest risk of being involved in gun violence.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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But, for those looking for a slightly less intensive experience, the semi-serious murder party—which tends to take place, and to wrap up, during one dinner—has come roaring back in popularity.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Now polling suggests the public, and even Republican leaders in Congress, have stopped buying the White House’s claims that federal agents’ paramilitary-style raids only target violent criminals.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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The takeover of the arts is less violent and a bit more insidious, but just as dangerous in its own right.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Catherine’s brother Hindley, a vicious bully whose abuse is part of what drives Cathy and Heathcliff so closely together, is cut entirely, his role combined with Catherine’s father.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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Everyone is fair game for her vicious tongue.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Saturday evening, police released a photo of Haile Cummings, 34, who is being sought in connection with the furious shoot-out inside Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Ave.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
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That may not be enough to stop furious lawmakers trying to eject the prime minister from office over his failure of judgment.—
Jill Lawless,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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