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ferocious
/fəˈroʊʃəs/
extremely aggressive or violent
The ferocious lion attacked its prey without hesitation.
The lion was extremely aggressive and attacked its prey immediately.
formal
Savagely fierce, cruel, or violent.
The ferocious storm destroyed the coastal town.
The extremely violent storm caused severe damage to the coastal town.
A ferocious debate broke out among the committee members.
A heated and aggressive argument erupted among the committee members.
Often used to describe animals, weather, or human behavior with intense aggression.
informal
Extremely intense or strong.
She has a ferocious appetite for knowledge.
She has an extremely strong desire to learn.
Commonly used in informal contexts to emphasize intensity.
Collocations
ferocious attacka violent and aggressive assaultferocious storma very strong and destructive stormferocious appetitean extremely strong hunger or desire
Pro Tip
Avoid overuse
Ferocious is a strong word—reserve it for truly extreme situations to maintain its impact.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'ferocious' for aggressive or intense scenarios, not for mild or neutral ones.
Word Origin
From Latin *ferox*, *ferocis* (fierce, wild), derived from *ferus* (wild, untamed). Entered English in the late 17th century.
Usage Notes
Used to describe both physical aggression (e.g., animals, storms) and metaphorical intensity (e.g., debates, appetites). Avoid using for mild or neutral situations.
Word Breakdown
fer-
from Latin *ferus* (wild)
root-ocious
suffix forming adjectives with the sense of 'having the quality of'
suffixEnglish Dictionary