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
