fierce
UK /fɪəs/ · US /fɪɹs/ adjective, adverb
Forms fiercer fiercest
- adjective Exceedingly violent, severe, ferocious, cruel or savage. “A fierce storm battered the coast.”
- adjective Resolute or strenuously active. “We made a fierce attempt to escape.”
- adjective Threatening in appearance or demeanor. “The lion gave a fierce roar.”
- adjective (slang, Ireland, rustic) Excellent, very good. “Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce!"”
- adjective (US, LGBTQ slang, fashion) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah. “Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce.”
- adverb (slang, Ireland, rustic) Extremely; very. “It was fierce cold last night.”
Synonyms
furious incessive raging ferocious rampant grim infuriate rabid savage volatile wild awesome pukka terrific ace admirable amazing awe-inspiring badass broyal tearing vehement violent trigger-happy cutthroat bowelless boisterous rough
Etymology
From Middle English fers, fiers, borrowed from Old French fers (“wild", "ferocious”), nominative of fer, from Latin ferus (“wild", "untamed”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce wind.
- adjective Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. "A fierce whisper." Dickens.
Etymology [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.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “fierce”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details