Ferocious

Ferocious
Ferocious Fe*ro"cious, a. [L. ferox, -ocis, fierce: cf. F. f['e]roce. See {Ferocity}.] Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; as, ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion. [1913 Webster]

The humbled power of a ferocious enemy. --Lowth.

Syn: {Ferocious}, {Fierce}, {Savage}, {Barbarous}.

Usage: When these words are applied to human feelings or conduct, ferocious describes the disposition; fierce, the haste and violence of an act; barbarous, the coarseness and brutality by which it was marked; savage, the cruel and unfeeling spirit which it showed. A man is ferocious in his temper, fierce in his actions, barbarous in the manner of carrying out his purposes, savage in the spirit and feelings expressed in his words or deeds. -- {Fe*ro"cious*ly}, adv. -- {Fe*ro"cious*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • ferocious — [fə rō′shəs] adj. [< L ferox (gen. ferocis), wild, untamed < ferus, FIERCE + base akin to oculus, EYE + OUS] 1. fierce; savage; violently cruel 2. Informal very great [a ferocious appetite] ferociously adv. ferociousness …   English World dictionary

  • ferocious — index brutal, cruel, harsh, malevolent, malicious, malignant, outrageous, ruthless, vicious …   Law dictionary

  • ferocious — (adj.) 1640s, from L. ferocis, oblique case of ferox fierce, wild looking (see FEROCITY (Cf. ferocity)). Related: Ferociously; ferociousness …   Etymology dictionary

  • ferocious — *fierce, truculent, barbarous, savage, inhuman, cruel, fell Analogous words: infuriated, maddened, enraged (see ANGER vb): rapacious, *voracious, ravening, ravenous: relentless, implacable, merciless, *grim Contrasted words: *tame, subdued,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • ferocious — [adj] violent, barbaric barbarous, bloodthirsty, brutal, brutish, cruel, fell, feral, fierce, frightful, grim, implacable, inhuman, inhumane, lupine, merciless, murderous, pitiless, predatory, rapacious, ravening, ravenous, relentless, ruthless,… …   New thesaurus

  • ferocious — ► ADJECTIVE 1) savagely fierce, cruel, or violent. 2) informal very great; extreme. DERIVATIVES ferociously adverb ferociousness noun ferocity noun. ORIGIN from Latin ferox fierce …   English terms dictionary

  • ferocious — [[t]fəro͟ʊʃəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED A ferocious animal, person, or action is very fierce and violent. By its very nature a lion is ferocious... The police had had to deal with some of the most ferocious violence ever seen on the streets of London.… …   English dictionary

  • ferocious — fe|ro|cious [fəˈrəuʃəs US ˈrou ] adj [Date: 1600 1700; : Latin; Origin: ferox wild looking , from ferus wild ] 1.) violent, dangerous, and frightening ▪ a ferocious, hungry lion ▪ a ferocious battle ▪ The storm grew more and more ferocious with… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • ferocious — adjective 1 violent, dangerous, and frightening: The battle was long and ferocious. | ferocious dogs 2 very strong, severe, and unpleasant: a ferocious headache | The heat was ferocious. ferociously adverb ferociousness noun (U) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • ferocious — adjective 1) ferocious animals Syn: fierce, savage, wild, predatory, aggressive, dangerous Ant: gentle, tame 2) a ferocious attack Syn: brutal …   Thesaurus of popular words

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