fierceness

UK: /ˈfɪəsnɪs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fierce /fɪrs/   adj., fierc•er, fierc•est. 

1. wild, savage, or hostile:
   fierce beasts.
2. violent in force, intensity, etc.:
   a fierce hurricane.
3. furiously eager or intense:
   fierce competition.
4. Informal Terms extremely bad or severe:
   a fierce cold.

fierce•ly, adv. 
fierce•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fierce  (fērs), adj., 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 Terms extremely bad or severe:
   a fierce cold.

• Latin ferus wild, fierce; compare feral¹, ferocious
• Anglo-French fers, Old French fiers (nominative)
• Middle English fiers 1250–1300

fierce′ly, adv. 
fierce′ness, n. 
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, 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.

Antonyms

• 1. tame, mild.