fierce
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English fers, fiers, borrowed from Old French fers (“wild", "ferocious”), nominative of fer, from Latin ferus (“wild", "untamed”).
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /fɪəs/
- (General American) IPA(key): /fɪɹs/
- (obsolete) IPA(key): /fɜː(ɹ)s/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)s
Adjective edit
fierce (comparative fiercer or more fierce, superlative fiercest or most fierce)
- Exceedingly violent, severe, ferocious, cruel or savage.
- A fierce storm battered the coast.
- I felt a fierce loyalty to my family.
- Resolute or strenuously active.
- We made a fierce attempt to escape.
- 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
- Yet his passion for her had grown fiercer than ever, and he swore to himself that he would win her back from her phantasies. She, one may believe, was ready enough to listen.
- Threatening in appearance or demeanor.
- The lion gave a fierce roar.
- (slang, Ireland, rustic) Excellent, very good.
- Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce!"
- (slang, US, LGBT, fashion) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah.
- Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce.
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage
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resolute or strenuously active
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threatening in appearance or demeanor
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Adverb edit
fierce (not comparable)
References edit
- “fierce”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “fierce”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.