Ferocious
/fəˈroʊʃəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Ferocious describes something or someone very strong, fierce, or violent. It often refers to animals, people, or actions that are dangerous or very intense. It can also describe strong feelings like anger or competition.
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See It in Action
Very fierce or violent in action or behavior
- •The ferocious lion chased its prey through the grass.
- •The storm was ferocious, breaking trees and flooding streets.
- •She gave a ferocious argument that convinced everyone.
Showing strong emotion or intensity
- •He had a ferocious determination to win the race.
- •The competition between the two teams was ferocious.
- •Her ferocious anger scared everyone in the room.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'ferocious' like 'strong,' but much more intense and wild—like strong with anger or power
- ✓Picture a wild tiger showing its teeth and growling loudly in the jungle
- ✓It's the feeling when someone is very angry or when a storm is very strong and scary
- ✓Sounds like 'fur-RO-shus' → imagine a furry animal roaring loudly and fiercely
- ✓Think of stories about fierce animals or warriors who fight with great power and energy
- ✓NOT like 'nice' (gentle, kind), 'ferocious' means very rough or dangerous
- ✓NOT like 'strong' (can be calm), 'ferocious' means strong with wild or angry energy
- ✓NOT like 'quiet' or 'soft,' 'ferocious' is loud, fast, and powerful
Try Other Words
- •Fierce: very strong and wild (Use when you want to describe strong but less violent behavior)
- •Violent: using physical force to hurt (Use when the action causes harm or damage)
- •Intense: very strong in feeling or action (Use when focusing on strong emotions or energy)
- •Wild: uncontrolled and natural (Use when describing untamed or uncontrolled behavior)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: feroc- (from Latin 'ferus' meaning wild or fierce) + -ious (adjective suffix meaning 'full of')
- •Etymology: From Latin 'ferox,' meaning wild, brave, or fierce
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s in English to describe wild, savage animals or behavior
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe animals, weather, emotions, or actions that are very strong and dangerous
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be ferocious without being physically violent? How?
•How does the word 'ferocious' change the way you think about animals or people described this way?
Fill in the blanks
1.The ferocious tiger attacked because it felt ___ to protect its territory.
2.Her ferocious ___ helped her finish the difficult task on time.
3.Unlike a calm breeze, the ferocious wind ___ the trees and broke windows.
4.When he spoke with ferocious ___, everyone listened carefully.
5.The team played with ferocious ___, showing they wanted to win badly.
6.Ferocious storms often cause ___ damage to houses and roads.
7.The animal looked ferocious, but it was actually ___ when people approached.