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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as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)
the fierceness of her denial prompted many people to wonder if maybe she was innocent after all
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of fierce
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Dec. 2024
Given the prestige attached to the role, becoming (and remaining) a Rockette is no easy feat, so competition for open slots can be fierce.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 18 Dec. 2024
With his reputation and legacy on the line, Jay-Z is in for a fierce fight.
—Molly McPherson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Bridging the hoedown and the ballroom, Beyoncé alternates between angelic croons and fierce commands over a thumping bassline and a springy acoustic guitar.
—Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fierce 
Adjective
The competition between the four was fierce and the jury members were convinced that this Survivor lived up to the name of Sole Survivor and deserved the $1 million prize.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Dec. 2024
Given the prestige attached to the role, becoming (and remaining) a Rockette is no easy feat, so competition for open slots can be fierce.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 18 Dec. 2024
With his reputation and legacy on the line, Jay-Z is in for a fierce fight.
—Molly McPherson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Bridging the hoedown and the ballroom, Beyoncé alternates between angelic croons and fierce commands over a thumping bassline and a springy acoustic guitar.
—Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fierce
Adjective
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Paco, a punk rocker played by a ferocious Héctor Medina, is among those who take this drastic measure and is sent away.Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
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Angry tropics calmed for about a decade, until 2017, when Harvey and Irma hit the Gulf Coast with ferocious intensity.Jack Prator, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Media coverage of Walker’s messy private life has been intense.Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
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All that pollution has already triggered more intense storms, wildfires, droughts, and other climate disasters.Justine Calma, The Verge, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The first episode shows Dr. Robby leading a group of young medical students and residents on a tour of their new workplace, their faces just as much a mixture of terror and wonder as Carter’s was when his gruff mentor Peter Benton led him around County General on his first day.Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2025
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The beloved coach who has a sweetly gruff persona also joked about how he’s fared as a patient.Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The New Interest Rate Environment After a period of aggressive rate hikes to combat inflation, central banks are now easing their approach.Gianluca Sidoti, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
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Udoka has successfully constructed a versatile, aggressive defensive unit that competes with the league’s best offenses.Kelly Iko, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In it, Elphaba and Galinda profess their undying friendship; suffice it to say that Grande found the notion of treating her co-star with violent hostility an acting challenge.Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025
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Against a backdrop of violent tensions between Egyptians and various African nationalities, Aisha’s situation turns sour after a local gang offers her protection in exchange for a favor.Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Editors’ Picks Best Classical Music Albums of 2024 Image Ms. Battista, the medical student in Rome who was evicted, said her frantic search for another place not far from the city center took five months.Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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What's New Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman whose disappearance sparked a frantic search, has issued a statement after she was found safe.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Ramprakash was famously earmarked for a golden future in international cricket but often fell foul of an intensity that trapped rather than released his glorious talents.Tim Ellis, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
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How will a warming climate affect hurricane intensity?Jack Prator, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Dec. 2024
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
Thesaurus Entries Near fierce
Cite this Entry
“Fierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fierce. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
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