1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
But this team was special, with a watertight defence combined with a ferocious forward line of Ronaldo (his best goalscoring season for United), Rooney and Tevez.
—
Nick Miller, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
This ferocious, steep-banked corner possesses a wild 24% gradient, a nod to Spain’s bullfighting heritage.
—Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Wolverines are members of the weasel family, like ferrets and badgers, and are known for being ferocious and cunning carnivores.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025
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Tales of gladiators going head-to-head with ferocious lions in ancient Rome’s coliseum are legendary.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Nick Miller, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
This ferocious, steep-banked corner possesses a wild 24% gradient, a nod to Spain’s bullfighting heritage.
—Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Wolverines are members of the weasel family, like ferrets and badgers, and are known for being ferocious and cunning carnivores.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
Tales of gladiators going head-to-head with ferocious lions in ancient Rome’s coliseum are legendary.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferocious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious
Adjective
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In the game, the station is in the bright sunlight, and the subway tunnel experience takes a lot longer, and isn’t quite as intense.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
5 May 2025
-
And, George, Elon Musk told reporters this week it's been a very intense 100 days.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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The old model of fierce independence is a luxury many can't afford during this transition.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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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
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
Adjective
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The possession ended with a frantic Mikal Bridges losing the ball down low after a pick-and-roll that opened up naught.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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The frantic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 invited literal side-by-side montages of Chinooks in Kabul and Sea Knights in Saigon.—
Made by History,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Ryan Murphy has found his Kennedys after an intensive casting search for the first installment of his new FX anthology series, American Love Story.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Children are being exposed to an unprecedented amount of online pornography, much of which is violent and misogynistic.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 May 2025
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However, the Salvadoran national was living in the U.S. illegally and is suspected of being a member of the notoriously violent gang MS-13.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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But even when locked in a tense, deadly standoff with the vicious Barbie, Moulin doesn’t break, and his courage and silence helps lead to the liberation of France, while leaving behind a new spirit of strength and resistance.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
10 May 2025
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Bone Tomahawk Year: 2015 Runtime: 2h 11m Director: S. Craig Zahler S. Craig Zahler has become one of the most divisive filmmakers working today after three vicious, brutal movies — Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s second administration has opened with a furious blitz of conservative policy focused around deportations, deep cuts to federal agencies and tariffs.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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The shipyard has been hiring at a furious pace – 5,300 in 2023, 4,100 in 2024, and another 3,000 projected this year – to meet the Navy’s production schedule.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ferocious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ferocious. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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