FEROCIOUS Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'ferocious' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ferocious are barbarous , cruel , fierce , and savage . While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality. // a ferocious dog

Q: When is 'barbarous' a more appropriate choice than 'ferocious'?

Although the words barbarous and ferocious have much in common, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people. // barbarous treatment of prisoners

Q: When can 'cruel' be used instead of 'ferocious'?

While the synonyms cruel and ferocious are close in meaning, cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it. // the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Q: Where would 'fierce' be a reasonable alternative to 'ferocious'?

The meanings of fierce and ferocious largely overlap; however, fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack. // fierce warriors

Q: When would 'savage' be a good substitute for 'ferocious'?

In some situations, the words savage and ferocious are roughly equivalent. However, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion. // a savage criminal

ferocious

adjective

fə-ˈrō-shəs

Definition of ferocious next

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect the ferocious appetite that athletic teenagers have been known to display

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fierce

marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity ferocious forest fires threatened to destroy hundreds of homes in the scrubland

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in savage

violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition the animal is known as a ferocious predator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in frantic

marked by great and often stressful excitement or activity after a day of ferocious up-and-down trading, the stock market ended up down 300 points

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ferocious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ferocious are barbarous, cruel, fierce, and savage. While all these words mean "showing fury or malignity in looks or actions," ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.

a ferocious dog

When is barbarous a more appropriate choice than ferocious?

Although the words barbarous and ferocious have much in common, barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.

barbarous treatment of prisoners

When can cruel be used instead of ferocious?

While the synonyms cruel and ferocious are close in meaning, cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.

the cruel jokes of schoolboys

Where would fierce be a reasonable alternative to ferocious?

The meanings of fierce and ferocious largely overlap; however, fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.

fierce warriors

When would savage be a good substitute for ferocious?

In some situations, the words savage and ferocious are roughly equivalent. However, savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.

a savage criminal

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ferocious Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted the second week of January and roared across the Los Angeles area. —

Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2025 The cast does commendable work bringing their characters to life: Ashe’s Elham is ferocious, prickly, and competitive; Tabbal’s Omid is lovable but too good; Lalezarzadeh’s Goli is young, bright-eyed, yet wise; Pooya’s Roya is queenly, imposing, and devoted. —

Christian Lewis, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025 As climate change makes California’s already moody swings between wet and dry more ferocious, the state’s water problems between farmers, environmentalists and cities are getting harder to solve. —

Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025 However, the Los Angeles fires demonstrate a new reality: Wildfires in the state are growing larger and more ferocious and burning into suburbs and cities more often, experts told USA TODAY. —

Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for ferocious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ferocious

Adjective

With rain that could be intense enough to cause #mudslides.

— Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
But that independence, and particularly the eye-opening success that EMPIRE has experienced over the past few years, has also brought scrutiny — and tests of Ghazi’s commitment, particularly during a time of intense consolidation in the music business.

— Dan Rys, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2025