Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

fierce

fierce \'fi(*)rs\ aj [ME fiers, fr. OF, fr. L ferus wild, savage; akin to 
   the-r] wild animal 1a: violently hostile or aggressive in temperament  1b: 
   given to fighting or killing : PUGNACIOUS  2a: marked by unrestrained zeal 
   or vehemence  2b: extremely vexatious, disappointing, or intense  3: 
   furiously active or determined  4: wild or menacing in aspect EL mean 
   showing fury or malignity in looks or actions. FIERCE applies to men and 
   animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or 
   fury in attack; FEROCIOUS implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained 
   violence and brutality; BARBAROUS implies a ferocity or mercilessness 
   regarded as unworthy of civilized men; SAVAGE implies the absence of 
   inhibitions restraining civilized men filled with rage, lust, or other 
   violent passion; CRUEL implies indifference to suffering and even positive 
   pleasure in inflicting it - fierce.ly av SYN syn FIERCE, FEROCIOUS, 
   BARBAROUS, SAVAGE, CRU