fierce applies to humans and animals that inspire terror because of their wild and menacing aspect or fury in attack.
fierce warriors
ferocious implies extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality.
a ferocious dog
barbarous implies a ferocity or mercilessness regarded as unworthy of civilized people.
barbarous treatment of prisoners
savage implies the absence of inhibitions restraining civilized people filled with rage, lust, or other violent passion.
a savage criminal
cruel implies indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it.
the cruel jokes of schoolboys
Example Sentences
He was killed in a fierce battle. The proposal has faced fierce opposition. The two teams have had a fierce rivalry for many years. He's admired for his fierce independence. You could see the fierce determination in her eyes.
Recent Examples on the WebBut the military provided no evidence to support its claim that a fierce gun battle was under way at the time that Abu Akleh was shot. Josef Federman, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 In the eventual sleeper hit, De Armas’ Marta is a quiet Latina nurse working for a wealthy family who unexpectedly finds herself at the center of a whodunit and a fierce battle for a sizable inheritance. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2022 At the center of the story is Rhaenyra Targaryen, who ignites a fierce battle for succession when she's named the first female heir to the Iron Throne. Elaina Patton, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2022 His quest turned into a fierce battle with the editors of his newspaper, city and police officials, and a prominent university. Cara Fitzpatrick, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 As Johnson proved over the final 25 laps Sunday, in the midst of a fierce battle with teammate Marcus Ericsson for 5th-place, plenty of that muscle memory is still there. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 25 July 2022 But that cardplay is in service of the central board, where a fierce battle of territorial control plays out. Aaron Zimmerman, Ars Technica, 22 July 2022 Still, that is a risk that may be worth taking for most apparel sellers, which will be dealing with some fierce price competition in the coming months. Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Easily one of the best reality TV shows out there, RuPaul hosts Drag Race, a fierce talent competition to dub the King or Queen of drag. Sophie Hanson, Harper's BAZAAR, 12 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English fiers, from Anglo-French fer, fers, fiers, from Latin ferus wild, savage; akin to Greek thēr wild animal