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Fierce vs Fearful - What's the difference?

fierce | fearful | Synonyms |

As adjectives the difference between fierce and fearful

is that fierce is extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage while fearful is frightening.

fierce

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage.
  • A fierce storm battered the coast.
  • Resolute or strenuously active.
  • We made a fierce attempt to escape.
  • Threatening in appearance or demeanor.
  • The lion gave a fierce roar.
  • (slang, Ireland, rural) very, excellent.
  • It was fierce cold.
    Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce !"
  • (slang, US) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah.
  • Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce .

    Derived terms

    * something fierce

    Anagrams

    *

    fearful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * fearefull (obsolete) * fearfull (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (fearfuller)
  • Frightening.
  • Frightened, filled with terror.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.4:
  • Those two great champions did attonce pursew / The fearefull damzell with incessant payns [...].
  • Terrible.
  • Tending to fear.
  • fearful boy

    Synonyms

    * (frightened) frightened, timid, timorous * See also