What does "fierce" mean?

Fierce: Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. "A fierce whisper." Dickens. "A fierce tyrant." Pope. The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear. Milton. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion. Job. x.

Additional senses

  1. 2.3. Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent. See Ferocious. -- Fierce"ly, adv. -- Fierce"ness, n.

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