ferocious
ferocious — adjective
1. A ferocious animal, person, or action is extremely aggressive, violent, and frig
A ferocious animal, person, or action is extremely aggressive, violent, and frightening. The word can also describe things that are not physically violent but very intense, such as ferocious criticism or a ferocious storm.
The hikers fled when a ferocious bear charged out of the bushes.
collocation: ferocious bear / ferocious attack
Ferocious criticism of the new policy appeared in every major newspaper.
applies to non-physical things: ferocious criticism
A ferocious storm tore through the coastal town, leaving behind great damage.
Dewi trained with ferocious energy every day before the race.
The debate between the two candidates grew increasingly ferocious.
- fierce
The closest general synonym, but milder than ferocious; fierce can describe strong emotion or effort without the sense of wild, dangerous aggression.
- savage
Emphasises primitive, cruel, and untamed behaviour, often implying a desire to cause severe injury; stronger and more disturbing than ferocious.
- brutal
Focuses on the deliberate infliction of pain or hardship without mercy; can apply to both physical violence and harsh conditions (a brutal winter).
- vicious
Implies a spiteful or cruel intention to hurt; often used for attacks or remarks meant to cause emotional harm.
- gentle
The opposite of ferocious in both physical aggression and intensity; a gentle person is kind and calm.
- mild
Describes something that is not strong or intense, such as mild criticism or mild weather — the direct opposite of ferocious in the intensity sense.
- tame
Describes an animal that is not wild or dangerous; the opposite of ferocious in the animal-behaviour sense.
文法句型
ferocious + noun (a ferocious animal / ferocious criticism)
be + ferocious (the storm was ferocious)
adverb + ferocious (absolutely ferocious / increasingly ferocious)
用法筆記
Often used for things that are not literally violent but are extremely strong in effect, such as debates, criticism, competition, or weather. The physical-violence sense is the original meaning, but the intensity sense is common in news and sports writing.