Fierce

• POS: Adjective

CIDE DICTIONARY

Fierce, a. [OE. fers, fiers, OF. fier, nom. fiers, fierce, savage, cruel, F. fier proud, from L. ferus wild, savage, cruel; perh. akin to E. bear the animal. Cf. Feral, Ferocity.].

•  Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce wind.  [1913 Webster]

  "His fierce thunder drove us to the deep."  [1913 Webster]
•  Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious.  [1913 Webster]

  "The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear."  [1913 Webster]

  "Thou huntest me as a fierce lion."  [1913 Webster]
•  Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.

Syn. -- Ferocious; savage; cruel; vehement; impetuous; barbarous; fell. See Ferocious.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Fierce, adj. (fiercer, fiercest)
1 vehemently aggressive or frightening in temper or action, violent.
2 eager, intense, ardent.
3 unpleasantly strong or intense; uncontrolled (fierce heat).
4 (of a mechanism) not smooth or easy in action.

Derivative

fiercely adv. fierceness n.

Etymology

ME f. AF fers, OF fiers fier proud f. L ferus savage

THESAURUS

Fierce

Draconian, Tartarean, abandoned, acid, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, acute, aggressive, amok, angry, animal, antagonistic, anthropophagous, astringent, atrocious, awful, barbaric, barbarous, battling, beastly, bellicose, belligerent, bellowing, berserk, bestial, biting, bitter, bloodthirsty, bloody, bloody-minded, brutal, brutalized, brute, brutish, cannibalistic, carried away, caustic, chauvinist, chauvinistic, combative, concentrated, contentious, cruel, cruel-hearted, cutting, dangerous, delirious, demoniac, demoniacal, desperate, devilish, diabolic, dire, distracted, double-edged, drastic, dreadful, ecstatic, edged, enemy, enraged, enraptured, escharotic, excessive, exorbitant, exquisite, extravagant, extreme, fell, feral, ferine, ferocious, fiendish, fiendlike, fiery, fighting, fighting mad, frantic, frenzied, full of fight, fulminating, fuming, furious, great, grim, haggard, harsh, hawkish, hellish, hog-wild, homicidal, hopping mad, hostile, hotheaded, howling, hysterical, immoderate, impetuous, in a rage, in a transport, in hysterics, incisive, infernal, infuriate, infuriated, inhuman, inhumane, inimical, inordinate, intemperate, intense, intoxicated, intractable, jingo, jingoish, jingoist, jingoistic, keen, kill-crazy, mad, maddened, madding, malign, malignant, maniac, martial, menacing, merciless, militant, militaristic, military, mordacious, mordant, murderous, noncivilized, offensive, orgasmic, orgiastic, outrageous, passionate, penetrating, piercing, pitiless, poignant, possessed, pugnacious, quarrelsome, rabid, racking, raging, ramping, ranting, raving, raving mad, ravished, rigorous, roaring, roaring mad, rough, running mad, ruthless, saber-rattling, sadistic, sanguinary, sanguineous, satanic, savage, scathing, scrappy, severe, sharkish, sharp, simmering, slavering, soldierlike, soldierly, splitting, stabbing, stinging, storming, stormy, strident, stringent, subhuman, superlative, supreme, tameless, tart, tempestuous, terrible, threatening, tigerish, tornadic, tough, transcendent, transported, trenchant, trigger-happy, truculent, tumultuous, turbulent, unchristian, uncivilized, unconscionable, uncontrollable, unfriendly, ungentle, unhuman, unpacific, unpeaceable, unpeaceful, untamed, vehement, venomous, vicious, violent, virulent, vitriolic, volcanic, warlike, warmongering, warring, wild, wild-eyed, wild-looking, wolfish

ROGET THESAURUS

Fierce

Excitability

N excitability, impetuosity, vehemence, boisterousness, turbulence, impatience, intolerance, nonendurance, irritability, itching, wincing, disquiet, disquietude, restlessness, fidgets, fidgetiness, agitation, trepidation, perturbation, ruffle, hurry, fuss, flurry, fluster, flutter, pother, stew, ferment, whirl, buck fever, hurry-skurry, thrill, state of excitement, fever of excitement, transport, passion, excitement, flush, heat, fever, heat, fire, flame, fume, blood boiling, tumult, effervescence, ebullition, boiling over, whiff, gust, story, tempest, scene, breaking out, burst, fit, paroxysm, explosion, outbreak, outburst, agony, violence, fierceness, rage, fury, furor, furore, desperation, madness, distraction, raving, delirium, phrensy, frenzy, hysterics, intoxication, tearing passion, raging passion, anger, fascination, infatuation, fanaticism, Quixotism, Quixotry, tete montee, excitable, easily excited, in an excitable state, high-strung, irritable, impatient, intolerant, feverish, febrile, hysterical, delirious, mad, moody, maggoty- headed, unquiet, mercurial, electric, galvanic, hasty, hurried, restless, fidgety, fussy, chafing, startlish, mettlesome, high-mettled, skittish, vehement, demonstrative, violent, wild, furious, fierce, fiery, hot-headed, madcap, overzealous, enthusiastic, impassioned, fanatical, rabid, rampant, clamorous, uproarious, turbulent, tempestuous, tumultuary, boisterous, impulsive, impetuous, passionate, uncontrolled, uncontrollable, ungovernable, irrepressible, stanchless, inextinguishable, burning, simmering, volcanic, ready to burst forth, volatile, excited, exciting, Int, pish!, pshaw!, noli me tangere, filled with fury, rapt, inspir'd, maggiore fretta minore atto.

Violence

N violence, inclemency, vehemence, might, impetuosity, boisterousness, effervescence, ebullition, turbulence, bluster, uproar, callithump, riot, row, rumpus, le diable a quatre, devil to pay, all the fat in the fire, severity, ferocity, rage, fury, exacerbation, exasperation, malignity, fit, paroxysm, orgasm, climax, aphrodisia, force, brute force, outrage, coup de main, strain, shock, shog, spasm, convulsion, throe, hysterics, passion, outbreak, outburst, debacle, burst, bounce, dissilience, discharge, volley, explosion, blow up, blast, detonation, rush, eruption, displosion, torrent, turmoil, ferment, storm, tempest, rough weather, squall, earthquake, volcano, thunderstorm, berserk, berserker, fury, dragon, demon, tiger, beldame, Tisiphone, Megaera, Alecto, madcap, wild beast, fire eater, violent, vehement, warm, acute, sharp, rough, rude, ungentle, bluff, boisterous, wild, brusque, abrupt, waspish, impetuous, rampant, turbulent, disorderly, blustering, raging, troublous, riotous, tumultuary, tumultuous, obstreperous, uproarious, extravagant, unmitigated, ravening, inextinguishable, tameless, frenzied, desperate, infuriate, furious, outrageous, frantic, hysteric, in hysterics, fiery, flaming, scorching, hot, red-hot, ebullient, savage, fierce, ferocious, fierce as a tiger, excited, unquelled, unquenched, unextinguished, unrepressed, unbridled, unruly, headstrong, ungovernable, unappeasable, immitigable, unmitigable, uncontrollable, incontrollable, insuppressible, irrepressible, orgastic, orgasmatic, orgasmic, spasmodic, convulsive, explosive, detonating, volcanic, meteoric, stormy, violently, amain, by storm, by force, by main force, with might and main, tooth and nail, vi et armis, at the point of the sword, at the point of the bayonet, at one fell swoop, with a high hand, through thick and thin, in desperation, with a vengeance, a outrance, a toute outrance, headlong, head foremost, furor arma ministrat, blown with restless violence round about the pende.

Courage

N courage, bravery, valor, resoluteness, boldness, spirit, daring, gallantry, intrepidity, contempt of danger, defiance of danger, derring-do, audacity, rashness, dash, defiance, confidence, self-reliance, manliness, manhood, nerve, pluck, mettle, game, heart, heart of grace, spunk, guts, face, virtue, hardihood, fortitude, intestinal fortitude, firmness, heart of oak, bottom, backbone, spine, resolution, bulldog courage, prowess, heroism, chivalry, exploit, feat, achievement, heroic deed, heroic act, bold stroke, man, man of mettle, hero, demigod, Amazon, Hector, lion, tiger, panther, bulldog, gamecock, fighting-cock, bully, fire eater, courageous, brave, valiant, valorous, gallant, intrepid, spirited, spiritful, high-spirited, high-mettled, mettlesome, plucky, manly, manful, resolute, stout, stout-hearted, iron-hearted, lion-hearted, heart of oak, Penthesilean, bold, bold-spirited, daring, audacious, fearless, dauntless, dreadless, aweless, undaunted, unappalled, undismayed, unawed, unblanched, unabashed, unalarmed, unflinching, unshrinking, unblanching, unapprehensive, confident, self-reliant, bold as a lion, bold as brass, enterprising, adventurous, venturous, venturesome, dashing, chivalrous, soldierly, heroic, fierce, savage, pugnacious, strong-minded, hardy, doughty, firm, determined, dogged, indomitable, up to, up to the scratch, upon one's mettle, reassured, unfeared, undreaded, one's blood being up, courage sans peur, fortes fortuna adjuvat, have I not in my time heard lions roar, I dare do all that may become a man, male vincetis sed vincite, omne solum forti patria, self-trust is the essence of heroism, stimulos dedit oemula virtus, strong and great, a hero, teloque animus proestantior omni, there, is always safety in valor, virtus ariete fortier.

Resentment

N resentment, displeasure, animosity, anger, wrath, indignation, exasperation, bitter resentment, wrathful indignation, pique, umbrage, huff, miff, soreness, dudgeon, acerbity, virulence, bitterness, acrimony, asperity, spleen, gall, heart-burning, heart-swelling, rankling, ill humor, bad humor, ill temper, bad temper, irascibility, ill blood, revenge, excitement, irritation, warmth, bile, choler, ire, fume, pucker, dander, ferment, ebullition, towering passion, acharnement, angry mood, taking, pet, tiff, passion, fit, tantrums, burst, explosion, paroxysm, storm, rage, fury, desperation, violence, fire and fury, vials of wrath, gnashing of teeth, hot blood, high words, scowl, sulks, affront, provocation, offense, indignity, grudge, crow to pluck, bone to pick, sore subject, casus belli, ill turn, outrage, Furies, Eumenides, buffet, slap in the face, box on the ear, rap on the knuckles, angry, wrath, irate, ireful, wrathful, cross, Achillean, sulky, bitter, virulent, acrimonious &c (discourteous), violent, warm, burning, boiling, boiling over, fuming, raging, foaming, foaming at the mouth, convulsed with rage, offended, waxy, acharne, wrought, worked up, indignant, hurt, sore, set against, fierce, wild, rageful, furious, mad with rage, fiery, infuriate, rabid, savage, relentless, flushed with anger, flushed with rage, in a huff, in a stew, in a fume, in a pucker, in a passion, in a rage, in a fury, in a taking, in a way, on one's high ropes, up in arms, in high dudgeon, angrily, in the height of passion, in the heat of passion, in the heat of the moment, Int, tantaene animis coelestibus irae!, marry come up!, zounds!, 'sdeath!, one's blood being up, one's back being up, one's monkey being up, fervens difficili bile jecur, the gorge rising, eyes flashing fire, the blood rising, the blood boiling, haeret lateri lethalis arundo, beware the fury of a patient man, furor arma ministrat, ira furor brevis est, quem Jupiter vult perdere dementat prius, What, drunk with choler?.