Synonyms of ferocious

ferocious

adjective

fə-ˈrō-shəs 

1

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect

the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intense
• fierce
• intensive
• terrible
• furious
• deep
• heavy
• violent
• vicious
• acute
• profound
• explosive
• fearsome
• fearful
• vehement
• dreadful
• frightful
• exquisite
• blistering
• ghastly
• excruciating
• heavy-duty
• keen
• hard
• intensified
• hellacious
• almighty
• harsh
• aggravated
• heightened
• concentrated
• severe
• enhanced
• magnified
• exhaustive
• thorough
• stressed
• accentuated
• deepened
• rigorous
• emphasized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderate
• light
• soft
• weak
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• qualified
• decreased
• subdued
• eased
• moderated
• toned (down)
• reduced
• diminished
• lightened
• lessened
• abated
• alleviated

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fierce
• violent
• furious
• turbulent
• rabid
• vicious
• rough
• volcanic
• explosive
• brutal
• hot
• aggressive
• cyclonic
• convulsive
• tumultuous
• tempestuous
• paroxysmal
• savage
• stormy
• volatile
• blood-and-guts
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• hostile
• hammer-and-tongs
• destructive
• bang-bang
• knock-down, drag-out
• contentious
• frantic
• barbarous
• pugnacious
• antagonistic
• mad
• belligerent
• bellicose
• combative
• truculent
• assertive
• frenzied
• quarrelsome
• gladiatorial
• combustible
• agitated
• cataclysmic
• ruinous
• cataclysmal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceful
• nonviolent
• peaceable
• calm
• serene
• tranquil
• pacific
• halcyon
• unaggressive
• nonbelligerent

3

as in savage

violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition

the animal is known as a ferocious predator

Synonyms & Similar Words

• savage
• fierce
• vicious
• ruthless
• merciless
• fell
• brute
• grim
• menacing
• murderous
• relentless
• militant
• pugnacious
• feisty
• murdering
• contentious
• warlike
• belligerent
• combative
• ravenous
• bellicose
• wild
• confrontational
• assaultive
• in-your-face
• gladiatorial
• threatening
• scrappy
• bestial
• barbaric
• truculent
• pitiless
• argumentative
• take-no-prisoners
• unrelenting
• bare-knuckles
• quarrelsome
• bloodthirsty
• disputatious
• bare-knuckled
• implacable
• inhuman
• bloody
• discordant
• inhumane
• brawly
• uncivilized
• sanguinary
• blood-and-guts
• bare-knuckle
• homicidal
• chippy
• heartless
• voracious
• rapacious
• sanguine
• wanton

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mild
• gentle
• warm
• friendly
• tame
• congenial
• genial
• amicable
• cordial
• hearty
• benign
• kind
• submissive
• compassionate
• compliant
• unaggressive
• merciful
• human
• peaceful
• amiable
• companionable
• peaceable
• warmhearted
• pacific
• comradely
• humane
• civilized
• cultured
• complaisant
• obliging

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frantic
• fierce
• furious
• intense
• mad
• intensive
• violent
• frenzied
• frenetic
• rabid
• delirious
• feverish
• wild
• excessive
• vehement
• concentrated
• extreme
• undue
• inordinate
• exorbitant
• irrational
• maniacal
• extravagant
• immoderate
• lavish
• crazed
• unconscionable
• insane
• demented
• high-pressured
• deranged
• overweening
• crazy
• maniac
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quiet
• calm
• peaceful
• reasonable
• moderate
• undisturbed
• serene
• placid
• tranquil
• subdued
• relaxed
• temperate
• unperturbed
• casual
• sound
• balanced
• untroubled
• sane
• low-pressure
• easygoing

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ferocious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ferocious are barbarous, cruel, fierce, and savage. While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When is barbarous a more appropriate choice than ferocious?

Although the words barbarous and ferocious have much in common, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When can cruel be used instead of ferocious?

While the synonyms cruel and ferocious are close in meaning, cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Where would fierce be a reasonable alternative to ferocious?

The meanings of fierce and ferocious largely overlap; however, fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

When would savage be a good substitute for ferocious?

In some situations, the words savage and ferocious are roughly equivalent. However, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ferocious

Starship’s upper stage will also test several new kinds of tiles to protect against the ferocious heat of reentry. —Adam Rogers, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025

While the massive storm is forecast to remain hundreds of miles from shore, its outer bands will still likely be strong enough to stir up ferocious riptides, monster swells and intense winds of 100 mph along much of the East Coast. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025

Typical confusion and disruption for a ferocious Vikings unit led by blitz enthusiast and defensive coordinator Brian Flores, but a shock to the Patriots’ offensive system. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

Aquaman star Jason Momoa learned that lesson the hard way while attempting a miles-long paddle through ferocious Hawaiian waters and nearly not coming back up. —Ryan Coleman Published, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025