fierce
Use Fierce in a sentence
adjective, fierc·er, fierc·est.
1.
menacingly wild, savage, or hostile: fierce animals; a fierce look.
2.
violent in force, intensity, etc.: fierce winds.
3.
furiously eager or intense: fierce competition.
4.
Informal. extremely bad or severe: a fierce cold.
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English fiers < Anglo-French fers, Old French fiers (nominative) < Latin ferus wild, fierce; cf. feral1, ferocious
1250–1300; Middle English fiers < Anglo-French fers, Old French fiers (nominative) < Latin ferus wild, fierce; cf. feral1, ferocious
Related forms
fierce·ly, adverb
fierce·ness, noun
o·ver·fierce, adjective
o·ver·fierce·ly, adverb
o·ver·fierce·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. untamed; cruel, fell, brutal; barbarous, bloodthirsty, murderous. Fierce, ferocious, truculent suggest vehemence and violence of temper, manner, or action: fierce in repelling a foe. Ferocious implies fierceness or cruelty, especially of a bloodthirsty kind, in disposition or action: a ferocious glare; ferocious brutality toward helpless refugees. Truculent suggests an intimidating or bullying fierceness of manner or conduct: His truculent attitude kept them terrified and submissive. 2, 3. furious, passionate, turbulent.
1. untamed; cruel, fell, brutal; barbarous, bloodthirsty, murderous. Fierce, ferocious, truculent suggest vehemence and violence of temper, manner, or action: fierce in repelling a foe. Ferocious implies fierceness or cruelty, especially of a bloodthirsty kind, in disposition or action: a ferocious glare; ferocious brutality toward helpless refugees. Truculent suggests an intimidating or bullying fierceness of manner or conduct: His truculent attitude kept them terrified and submissive. 2, 3. furious, passionate, turbulent.
Antonyms
1. tame, mild.
1. tame, mild.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To fierce
00:10
Fierce
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
fierce (fɪəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | having a violent and unrestrained nature; savage: a fierce dog |
| 2. | wild or turbulent in force, action, or intensity: a fierce storm |
| 3. | vehement, intense, or strong: fierce competition |
| 4. | informal very disagreeable or unpleasant |
| [C13: from Old French fiers, from Latin ferus] | |
| 'fiercely | |
| —adv | |
| 'fierceness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
fierce
mid-13c., from O.Fr. fers, nom. form of fer, fier "wild, ferocious," from L. ferus "wild, untamed," from PIE base *gwer- "wild, wild animal" (cf. Gk. ther, O.C.S. zveri, Lith. zveris "wild beast"). Originally in English also with a sense of "brave, proud," which died out 16c., but caused the word at
first to be commonly used as an epithet, which accounts for the rare instance of a French word entering English in the nominative case. Related: Fiercely; fierceness.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
fierce definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Example sentences
Pandas will then become the fierce carnivores they should have always been.
Although warthogs look fierce, they are actually herbivores who prefer to flee rather than fight.
Previous amnesties did not come during fierce contests for power, but only after the dust had settled.
And then the fierce, buried anger surged up into his throat.
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