fierce /fɪəs $ fɪrs/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: fiers , from Latin ferus 'wild' ]
1 . done with a lot of energy and strong feelings, and sometimes violence:
fierce fighting in the city
fierce attack/opposition/criticism etc
The government’s policies came under fierce attack.
a fierce debate
fierce competition between the companies
2 . a fierce person or animal is angry or ready to attack, and looks very frightening:
fierce guard dogs
She turned round, looking fierce.
3 . fierce emotions are very strong and often angry:
These people take fierce pride in their independence.
4 . fierce cold, heat, or weather is much colder, hotter etc than usual:
a fierce wind
5 . informal looking very good and fashionable SYN fabulous
6 . something fierce American English spoken more loudly, strongly etc than usual:
It was snowing something fierce.
—fiercely adverb
—fierceness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
▪ violent /ˈvaɪələnt/ using force to hurt or kill people – used about people, crimes etc. Also used about films or books that contain a lot of violence:
a violent man who couldn’t control his temper
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the increase in violent crime
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The film is too violent to be shown to children.
▪ vicious /ˈvɪʃəs/ violent and dangerous, and seeming to enjoy hurting people for no reason:
a vicious attack on an unarmed man
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We were surrounded by a gang of vicious thugs, armed with knives.
▪ rough /rʌf/ using force or violence, but not causing serious injury:
Some of the boys were being a bit rough with the younger kids.
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There were complaints about rough treatment by the police.
▪ brutal /ˈbruːtl/ behaving in a way that is very cruel and violent, and showing no pity:
Idi Amin was a brutal dictator.
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a particularly brutal murder
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The prison guards were brutal and corrupt.
▪ savage /ˈsævɪdʒ/ attacking people in a particularly cruel way – used about people and fighting, especially in news reports:
a savage killer
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There was savage fighting in the capital Mogadishu.
▪ bloody a bloody battle or war is very violent and a lot of people are killed or injured:
a bloody civil war
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The Russians were engaged in a bloody battle against the German army.
▪ ferocious /fəˈrəʊʃəs/ a ferocious attack or battle is extremely violent. Also used about animals that are likley to attack in a very violent way:
The two armies fought a ferocious battle.
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a ferocious beast
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It was the most ferocious attack I have ever seen.
▪ fierce a fierce animal or person looks frightening and likely to attack people:
A fierce dog stood growling at the gate.
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Bears are always fierce when they have young.
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fierce bodyguards
▪ bloodthirsty a bloodthirsty person enjoys watching violence. A bloodthirsty story contains a lot of violent scenes:
In Mexico, humans were sacrificed to bloodthirsty gods.
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a bloodthirsty tale of revenge
▪ gory showing or describing injuries, blood, death etc clearly and in detail:
a gory horror movie
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The book was too gory for many readers.