fierce
gb/fˈɪɹs/ us/fˈɪɹs/
B1
English
~ 2200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Very intense and aggressive
Very strong and aggressive in behavior or feeling.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is fierce
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fierce' with 'wild' or 'angry'. While 'fierce' can mean angry, it more broadly means intense and forceful, not necessarily uncontrolled.
Synonyms
aggressive (Focuses more on readiness to attack or confront; 'fierce' can include emotional intensity without physical aggression.)
|
intense (Emphasizes strong force or feeling but not necessarily hostility.)
Antonyms
gentle (Suggests mildness and kindness, the opposite of aggressive or forceful.)
Collocations
fierce competition
|fierce debate
|fierce attack
|fierce argument
|fierce criticism
Themes
emotions
|personality
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The two teams faced fierce competition for the championship.
- She gave me a fierce look when I interrupted her.
- There was fierce resistance from the local community to the proposed changes.
- The lion let out a fierce roar.
- He has a fierce determination to succeed.
Learner examples
- The dog looked fierce and barked loudly.
- She has a fierce will to win.
- The storm was fierce last night.
- He gave a fierce answer to the question.
adjective
B2
property
2
Strong and striking in appearance
Looking very strong, bold, or impressive.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] looks fierce
Synonyms
bold (Emphasizes confidence and striking style rather than aggression.)
|
formidable (Suggests inspiring respect or fear due to impressive qualities.)
Antonyms
plain (Simple and without striking features.)
Collocations
fierce look
|fierce style
|fierce outfit
Themes
appearance
|fashion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wore a fierce red dress that turned heads.
- His fierce style made him stand out in the crowd.
- The model gave a fierce pose for the camera.
- That car has a fierce design with sharp angles.
Learner examples
- Her dress is fierce and beautiful.
- He has a fierce smile.
- The house has a fierce look at night.
adjective
B1
property
3
Very strong or severe
Very strong or extreme.
Usage pattern:
[something] is fierce
Synonyms
violent (Emphasizes destructive physical force.)
|
severe (Highlights extreme conditions or seriousness.)
Antonyms
mild (Gentle and not extreme in force or degree.)
Collocations
fierce storm
|fierce heat
|fierce wind
Themes
weather
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A fierce storm hit the coast last night.
- They worked through the fierce heat of the desert.
- The wildfire spread quickly due to fierce winds.
Learner examples
- The sun is fierce today.
- A fierce wind blew my hat away.
- We had a fierce storm yesterday.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fierce
IPA
GB/fˈɪɹs/
US/fˈɪɹs/
Syllables & stress
fierce (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fierce)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: fierce
- Comparative: fiercer
- Superlative: fiercest
Word family
Expressions
fierce debate
1/fˈɪɹs dɪbˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
Very intense argument or discussion
A discussion where people strongly disagree and speak with passion.
Examples
- The policy change led to a fierce debate in parliament.
- There was a fierce debate about the new building project.
fierce determination
1/fˈɪɹs dɪtˌɚmənˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Very strong will to succeed
A very strong feeling of wanting to do something successfully.
Examples
- She showed fierce determination in completing the marathon.
- His fierce determination helped him overcome many obstacles.
fierce competition
1/fˈɪɹs kˌɑmpətˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Very intense competition
Competition that is very strong and difficult.
Examples
- There is fierce competition for jobs in the city.
- There is fierce competition in the fashion industry.
- The market faces fierce competition from overseas companies.
- Fierce competition forced smaller shops to close.