— fiercely , adv. — fierceness , n.
/fears/ , adj., fiercer, fiercest .
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.
[ 1250-1300; ME fiers fers, OF fiers (nom.) ferus wild, fierce; cf. FERAL 1 , FEROCIOUS ]
Syn. 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, esp. 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.
Ant. 1. tame, mild.