fierceness

American  

[feers-nis] / ˈfɪərs nɪs /

noun

1. a menacingly wild, savage, or hostile quality or character.

   In spite of the fierceness of the enemy barrage, the line was made secure.

   After many threats, he rushed at me with the fierceness of a wolf.

2. violent force, intensity, etc..

   Already the sudden storm is passing, and its fierceness is abating.

3. furious eagerness or intensity of emotion, etc..

   As I read her novel my heart was moved by the fierceness of her love for humanity.

4. the quality of being extremely bad or severe.

   Only by the fifth day, when the fierceness of the headache started to decrease, was she able to move normally again.

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Other Word Forms

• overfierceness noun

Etymology

Origin of fierceness

First recorded in 1350–1400; fierce ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

“The fierceness and price and cost demands of China’s markets make the winners emerging from here far more globally fit than most any other country’s environment will produce.”

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

A rare moment of high drama flares when a pregnant woman, Agata, played with firecracker fierceness by Anna Chlumsky, barrels down the basement stairs to accost Renia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

The fierceness of the defence obviously stayed with Goldie - he later saw a poodle and hastily flew away.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2025

“I find a little bit of a fierceness in these performances,” says Andrea L. Press, chair of the Media Studies Department and the Feminist Scholarship Division at the University of Virginia.

From Slate • Dec. 2, 2024

"I said leave," Robert insisted with a hint of his old fierceness.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• wildness