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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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
The hearings, open to public testimony, are slated to gauge voter sentiment ahead of what is shaping up to be a fierce partisan battle in the 2026 midterm elections.
—
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
The fierce gaze of a 15-year-old California teen has turned her into an internet sensation.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2025
The rivalries have been fierce, but the mutual drive to innovate and raise the bar is what has made this journey so special.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The subsequent backlash was fierce, with critics calling for Bondi’s head.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
The fierce gaze of a 15-year-old California teen has turned her into an internet sensation.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2025
The rivalries have been fierce, but the mutual drive to innovate and raise the bar is what has made this journey so special.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The subsequent backlash was fierce, with critics calling for Bondi’s head.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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An inside look at the birth and power of ferocious storms Lowry credits the current warming in the Atlantic to a weakening of the Bermuda High, a pattern of high pressure that expands and shrinks over the western Atlantic and heavily influences hurricane movement.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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His was a time of global conflict, consumerist excess, and ferocious climate change.—
Daniel Seifert,
JSTOR Daily,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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An intense pain that isn't going away There the lone doctor examined him and gave him an EKG to look at how his heart was functioning.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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SFGate notes that many dogs fear the oven due to its unusual sounds, intense heat, and especially alarms or beeping.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Bill Pogue’s family and friends knew him as a thoughtful, deeply sensitive man, despite his reputation as a gruff, stern, wildlife officer.—
Jim Zumbo,
Outdoor Life,
17 July 2025
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Who leaves us echoes — gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The corporation counsel must be aggressive in going after companies that cheat city laws.—
Harvey Epstein,
New York Daily News,
3 Aug. 2025
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Increasing widespread episodes of violence, threats and aggressive behaviors are taking a toll on nurses, doctors and medical staff, according to the study.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The two got married, had a baby, and started a quiet life together far away from his violent past.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
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As droves of tourists continue to flock to Spain for European summer vacations, the nation’s emergency responders are dealing with the aftermath of a violent wave of flash flooding in nearly half of the country’s 50 provinces.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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For Bertram, whose family winery has roots deep in the terraced vineyards of the valley, the night was a blur of frantic decisions and terrifying uncertainty.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
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Huntington Park High School Principal Carlos Garibaldi was preparing to host a graduation on his campus when frantic colleagues radioed him: Immigration is coming.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Critics question whether a battery swap network—capital intensive, dependent on fleet adoption, and distributed across so many different markets—can scale profitably.—
Clay Chandler,
Fortune,
19 July 2025
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An intensive moisturiser that delivers maximum hydration, Revision’s DermProtect Barrier Defense™ also replenishes natural lipids, and enhances moisture retention.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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