English Reference
Adjective

ferocious

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /fɝˈoʊʃəs/ UK /fəɹˈəʊʃəs/ fe·ro·cious

adj.very violent, aggressive, or strong. You use it to describe a wild animal or a person's intense behavior.

adj.marked by extreme violence, cruelty, or intensity. Often describes predatory behavior or powerful natural forces.


SIMPLE

The ferocious dog barked at every stranger.

CONTEXTUAL

A ferocious storm hit the coast last night, causing significant damage to the harbor.

COMPLEX

The debate grew ferocious as both sides refused to compromise on their core principles, leading to a complete breakdown in communication.

Usage

Often used to modify nouns related to conflict, weather, or predatory animals.

When an animal is dying, it becomes its most ferocious.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

Taken from Latin ferōx (“wild, bold, savage, fierce”) + -ous.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin ferōx
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated