fierce
/fɪəs
/adjective (fiercer, fiercest)
1Having or displaying a violent or ferocious aggressiveness: fierce fighting continued throughout the day...
- For hundreds of years, in our mind at least, the tiger was a fierce, aggressive, dangerous and invincible animal.
- It will be a closely fought and fierce battle but I hope it does.
- Several fierce battles were fought between the two camps.
Synonyms
ferocious, savage, vicious;
wild, feral, untamed, undomesticated;
aggressive, bloodthirsty, dangerous;
cruel, brutal, murderous;
menacing, threatening, terrible, grim
1.1(Of the weather or temperature) powerful and destructive: fierce storms lashed the country...
- Their vegetation, mostly scrub pine, is noticeably weathered from the fierce storms that punish this area.
- While returning home to their farm, a fierce rain and wind storm catches them on the water and the boat capsizes, threatening to drown them both.
- But in the face of fierce weather and conditions, and very young crew, that plane crashed.
Synonyms
powerful, strong, violent, forceful, bitter;
stormy, blustery, gusty, boisterous, tempestuous, raging, furious, turbulent, tumultuous, cyclonic, typhonic;
destructive, devastating
1.2Showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity: his fierce loyalty there was fierce local opposition to the plans...
- It breeds fierce loyalty from its local skiers.
- The decision came despite fierce opposition from local people, hundreds of whom signed petitions and wrote letters to the company demanding the counter remain open.
- They are two of the biggest housing schemes seen in York for years - and they have attracted fierce opposition from local residents.
Synonyms
intense, powerful, vehement, passionate, impassioned, fervent, fervid, fiery, flaming, ardent, uncontrolled, immoderate, intemperate, inordinate
1.3(Of a mechanism) having a jolting and powerful abruptness of action: the fire door had a fierce pneumatic return...
- Neither accelerator nor brake is fierce, the steering is accurate but requires no great effort.
- His answer was a sudden jolt from Nick, fierce enough to let Nick slip out of his grasp.
adverb Irish informal
Very; extremely: he was fierce proud...
- He also had acquired a new home and was fierce proud of the garden, it stood on a small hill overlooking his kingdom, it was his inch of paradise and richly deserved.
- I used to think that 70 was a fierce old age but it's not really!
- He's looking fierce old though, would never pass for Fr Dougal now.
Phrases
something fierce
Derivatives
fierceness
/ noun ...- Lions symbolize good luck and their fierceness scares off evil spirits.
- Given the fierceness with which I have criticized Mr. Kristof on occasion, I actually felt embarrassed about going up and talking to him.
- The show has come back a year after the first episode of the American version premiered in Canada - but disappointingly, with hardly any new fierceness.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French fiers 'fierce, brave, proud', from Latin ferus 'untamed'.
Rhymes
- residual powers
- residual stress
- residual sugar
- residual volume
- residuary
- residuary clause
- residuary devisee
- residuary legatee
- residuary powers
- residuation
- residue
- residue class
- residuous
- residuum
- resift
- resight
- re-sign
- resign
- resignal
- resignatary
- resignate
- resignation
- resignationism
- resignationist
- resigned