adj C1 Advanced Uncommon

ferocious

fuh-ROH-shuhs

Ferocious (adj) means Extremely fierce, savage, or violent. Example: “The dog let out a ferocious growl as the stranger approached.”

adj

Extremely fierce, savage, or violent.

"The dog let out a ferocious growl as the stranger approached."

"A ferocious storm tore roofs off houses along the coast."

Very intense or extreme.

"He has a ferocious appetite after a long run."

How to use ferocious

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExtremely fierce or violent — can describe animals, storms, fights, or just intense degree ("a ferocious appetite").

Common pairings

ferocious attack ferocious storm ferocious appetite

Word forms

more ferocious comparative, most ferocious superlative

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The dog let out a _____ growl as the stranger approached.

Etymology

From Latin ferox, "wild, bold, fierce," plus the adjective ending -ous.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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fierce grim furious incessive infuriate rabid raging savage volatile wild

Antonyms

calm peaceable

Related words

still hard peace wild patient excellent afraid mad

Rhymes for ferocious

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ferocious” mean?

The word “ferocious” means extremely fierce, savage, or violent. In plain terms, extremely fierce or violent — can describe animals, storms, fights, or just intense degree ("a ferocious appetite").

How do you pronounce “ferocious”?

“Ferocious” is pronounced fuh-ROH-shuhs (/fəˈɹoʊʃəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “ferocious” in a sentence?

Here is “ferocious” used in a sentence: “The dog let out a ferocious growl as the stranger approached.”

What is another word for “ferocious”?

Words with a similar meaning to “ferocious” include fierce, grim, furious, incessive, infuriate and rabid.

What is the opposite of “ferocious”?

The opposite of “ferocious” — its antonyms — are calm and peaceable.

What part of speech is “ferocious”?

“Ferocious” is an adjective.

Where does the word “ferocious” come from?

The word “ferocious” comes from Latin. From Latin ferox, "wild, bold, fierce," plus the adjective ending -ous.

Is “ferocious” a common word?

“Ferocious” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

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