fiercely
gb/fˈɪɹsli/ us/fˈɪɹsli/
B1
English
~ 4800
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B1
property
1
With great intensity or force
In a way that is very strong, forceful, or full of energy.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] fiercely
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fiercely' with 'angrily', but 'fiercely' can describe positive qualities like loyalty or determination, not just anger.
Synonyms
intensely (Focuses more on the depth or degree of feeling or action, not necessarily aggression.)
|
forcefully (Emphasizes physical or verbal strength, sometimes with a confrontational tone.)
Antonyms
gently (Describes doing something in a soft or mild way, opposite of strong or intense.)
|
weakly (Suggests doing something without strength or determination.)
Collocations
fiercely competitive
|fiercely loyal
|fiercely opposed
|fiercely independent
|fiercely protective
Themes
emotions
|communication
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She argued fiercely for her beliefs.
- The two teams competed fiercely for the championship.
- He remained fiercely loyal to his friends despite criticism.
- The wind blew fiercely all night.
- The company is fiercely protective of its brand.
Learner examples
- She spoke fiercely about the problem.
- The dogs fought fiercely in the yard.
- He worked fiercely to finish the job.
- They played fiercely in the game.
- The storm hit the town fiercely.
adverb
B1
property
2
With aggression or violence
In a way that shows anger or violence.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] fiercely
Synonyms
aggressively (Directly confrontational and possibly hostile.)
|
violently (Emphasizes physical harm or destructive force.)
Antonyms
peacefully (Describes doing something calmly and without conflict.)
|
calmly (Implies acting without agitation or aggression.)
Collocations
fiercely attacked
|fiercely resisted
|fiercely fought
Themes
conflict
|violence
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The soldiers fought fiercely until the end.
- The protesters were fiercely pushed back by police.
- The tiger defended its territory fiercely.
Learner examples
- The dog barked fiercely at the stranger.
- The two men fought fiercely in the street.
- She resisted fiercely when they tried to take her bag.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fiercely
IPA
GB/fˈɪɹsli/
US/fˈɪɹsli/
Syllables & stress
fiercely (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fiercely)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fiercely
- Plural: fiercelies
Word family
Expressions
fiercely independent
1/fˈɪɹsli ˌɪndɪpˈɛndənt/
fixed phrase
Strongly self-reliant and autonomous
Not wanting help from others and liking to do things alone.
Examples
- She has been fiercely independent since she was a teenager.
- The artist is fiercely independent and refuses to work for big companies.
fiercely loyal
1/fˈɪɹsli lˈɔɪəl/
fixed phrase
Extremely supportive and faithful
Always giving strong support to a person, group, or idea.
Examples
- He was fiercely loyal to his childhood friends.
- The dog was fiercely loyal to its owner.
fiercely protective
1/fˈɪɹsli pɹətˈɛktɪv/
fixed phrase
Very determined to protect someone or something
Wanting very much to keep someone or something safe from harm.
Examples
- Parents can be fiercely protective of their children.
- She is fiercely protective of her privacy.
fiercely competitive
1/fˈɪɹsli kəmpˈɛtɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
Very determined to win
Wanting very much to win or be the best.
Examples
- The tech industry is fiercely competitive right now.
- She is fiercely competitive in everything she does.
- He is fiercely competitive on the tennis court.
- The market for smartphones is fiercely competitive.