ferocious
gb/fɚˈoʊʃəs/ us/fɚˈoʊʃəs/
B2
English
~ 8200
vad, tomboló, vérengző, erős, heves, intenzív
B2
1
Usage pattern:
ferocious [animal/attack/storm/conflict]
The hikers backed away slowly from the ferocious dog guarding the gate.
A túrázók lassan hátráltak a kaput őrző vad kutya elől.
A series of ferocious storms caused flooding across the region.
Tomboló viharok sora okozott áradásokat a régióban.
The soldiers faced ferocious resistance as they moved into the city.
Witnesses described a ferocious attack that lasted less than a minute.
The lion let out a ferocious roar that echoed through the valley.
Learner examples
The man was afraid of the ferocious dog.
A férfi félt a vad kutyától.
A ferocious storm hit the small town last night.
Tegnap este tomboló vihar csapott le a kisvárosra.
They ran from the ferocious bear in the forest.
The army met ferocious fighting near the border.
The tiger looked calm, but it could become ferocious quickly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "ferocious" with "furious". "Ferocious" describes something violent and dangerous (a ferocious dog, a ferocious storm), while "furious" usually describes someone who is very angry.
Meaning
extremely violent or savage
Collocations
ferocious dog
|ferocious attack
|ferocious storm
|ferocious battle
|ferocious fighting
|ferocious lion
Synonyms
vicious (Suggests a cruel, deliberate desire to hurt, often slightly stronger in moral judgment than "ferocious.")
|
savage (Emphasizes wild, uncontrolled brutality, often for animals or attacks.)
|
brutal (Focuses on extreme cruelty and physical violence rather than wild animal-like behavior.)
Antonyms
gentle (Describes behavior that is kind and not violent, the opposite of fierce or ferocious.)
|
tame (Used especially for animals that are not wild or dangerous, opposite of ferocious animals.)
Themes
violence
|nature
|conflict
|animals
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very violent and likely to attack or hurt someone or something.
Extremely violent, cruel, and aggressive, especially in a way that is frightening or likely to cause serious harm.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
ferocious [appetite/headache/competition/determination/pace]
After the hike, he had a ferocious appetite and ate everything on the table.
A túra után farkasétvágya volt, és mindent megevett, ami az asztalon volt.
She worked with ferocious determination to finish the project on time.
Rendkívüli elszántsággal dolgozott, hogy határidőre befejezze a projektet.
The company faces ferocious competition from cheaper overseas brands.
By midday the heat was ferocious, and people stayed indoors.
The runners started at a ferocious pace that few could keep up with.
Learner examples
I woke up with a ferocious headache this morning.
Ma reggel iszonyú fejfájással ébredtem.
The children played video games with ferocious energy.
A gyerekek féktelen energiával videójátékoztak.
He has a ferocious desire to win the game.
There is ferocious competition for that job.
She studied at a ferocious pace before the exam.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "ferocious" for things that are only a little strong (for example, saying "a ferocious rain" for normal bad weather). In everyday speech, use it when you really mean something is extremely strong or intense, not just ordinary.
Meaning
very intense or extreme
Collocations
ferocious appetite
|ferocious headache
|ferocious competition
|ferocious determination
|ferocious ambition
|ferocious pace
Synonyms
fierce (Very close in meaning; often slightly broader and more common in everyday speech for strong feelings or competition.)
|
intense (Focuses on strength or depth without the wild or aggressive flavor that "ferocious" can carry.)
|
extreme (A general word for being at a very high level; less emotional and dramatic than "ferocious.")
Antonyms
mild (Describes something gentle or not very strong, the opposite of ferociously strong or intense.)
|
weak (Shows low strength or power, opposite of the strong force suggested by "ferocious.")
Themes
intensity
|emotions
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very, very strong or intense, not just a little bit.
Extremely strong or intense in degree, especially describing feelings, efforts, conditions, or non-physical things.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ferocious
IPA
GB/fɚˈoʊʃəs/
US/fɚˈoʊʃəs/
Syllables & stress
fe - ro - cious (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fe)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ferocious
Word family
Core family
ferocity
noun B2
ferociously
adverb C1
Advanced or less common
ferociousness
noun
Expressions
a ferocious appetite
1/ə fɚˈoʊʃəs ˈæpɪtˌaɪt/
fixed phrase
a very strong desire to eat
A feeling of hunger that is very strong, so a person wants to eat a lot.
Examples
- After the long run, he had a ferocious appetite and ordered two burgers.
- Growing teenagers often have a ferocious appetite.
a ferocious attack
1/ə fɚˈoʊʃəs ətˈæk/
fixed phrase
an extremely violent attack
An attack that is very strong, violent, and dangerous.
Examples
- The village was hit by a ferocious attack just before dawn.
- Witnesses described a ferocious attack that left several people injured.
a ferocious dog
1/ə fɚˈoʊʃəs dˈɔɡ/
fixed phrase
a very aggressive, dangerous dog
A dog that is very violent and may attack or bite.
Examples
- The sign on the gate warned visitors about a ferocious dog inside.
- Neighbors complained that a ferocious dog kept barking and jumping at the fence.
a ferocious headache
1/ə fɚˈoʊʃəs hˈɛdˌeɪk/
fixed phrase
a very severe headache
A headache that hurts a lot, much more than usual.
Examples
- I woke up with a ferocious headache after the long flight.
- By the end of the meeting, she had a ferocious headache.
a ferocious storm
1/ə fɚˈoʊʃəs stˈɔɹm/
fixed phrase
an extremely violent storm
A storm that is very strong and can cause a lot of damage.
Examples
- A ferocious storm battered the coastline all night.
- They stayed indoors to wait out a ferocious storm that knocked down trees.
at a ferocious pace
1/ˈæt ə fɚˈoʊʃəs pˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
at a very fast, intense speed
Happening very fast and with a lot of energy.
Examples
- The economy is growing at a ferocious pace.
- They worked at a ferocious pace to finish the project on time.
ferocious competition
1/fɚˈoʊʃəs kˌɑmpətˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
very strong and aggressive competition
A situation where many people or companies try very hard to win, and it is very difficult to succeed.
Examples
- There is ferocious competition for places at the top universities.
- Small businesses face ferocious competition from online retailers.
ferocious determination
1/fɚˈoʊʃəs dɪtˌɚmənˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
extremely strong determination
A very strong and serious will to do something, even when it is hard.
Examples
- She learned the language with ferocious determination.
- The team showed ferocious determination in the final minutes of the game.