fierce

adj

1. Exceedingly violent, severe, ferocious, cruel or savage.

   “A fierce storm battered the coast.”

   “Their fights with other members of their own kind were always preceded by loud and fierce waulings or savage snarling and snapping of teeth […]”

   “One constituent spent an hour educating me on the history of pit bulls: the Molossians, the Mastiffs; the Greeks, Romans, Brits, Tibetans, and Germans; the crossbreeds. A common theme ran throughout their history: they were the fiercest of fighters, and eventually bred to fight—in wars during antiquity, in dog fights for centuries. Regardless, they were again and again attacking other dogs and people.”

2. Resolute or strenuously active.

   “We made a fierce attempt to escape.”

   “I feel a fierce loyalty to my kin.”

   “Yet his passion for her had grown fiercer than ever, and he swore to himself that he would win her back from her phantasies. She, one may believe, was ready enough to listen.”

   “Trump’s fiercest advocates have launched their Samson option: If he can’t keep power, they’ll bring down the party with him by calling for a boycott of the election.”

3. Threatening in appearance or demeanor.

   “The lion gave a fierce roar.”

4. (Ireland, slang)Excellent, very good.

   “Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce!"”

5. (US)Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah.

   “Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce.”

adv

1. (Ireland, not-comparable, slang)Extremely; very.

   “It was fierce cold last night.”