English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

ferocious

fuh-ROH-shuhs
adj
1
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."
2
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

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “ferocious” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

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

Etymology

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

Related Words

Rhymes for ferocious

See all rhymes for ferocious →

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial