different between ferocious vs heartless

English

Etymology

Taken from Latin ferox (“wild, bold, savage, fierce”) (with the suffix -ous), from ferus (“wild, savage, fierce”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f???????s/
• Rhymes: -????s

Adjective

ferocious (comparative more ferocious, superlative most ferocious)

1. Marked by extreme and violent energy.
   • 1975, Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift [Avon ed., 1976, p. 376]:

     But it seemed to me that there were few faces like his, with the ferocious profile that brought to mind the Latin word rapax or one of Rouault's crazed death-dealing arbitrary kings.
2. Extreme or intense.

Synonyms

• fierce

Derived terms

• ferociously

Related terms

• ferity
• ferocity
• fierce
• feral

Translations

Further reading

• ferocious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ferocious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• ferocious at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

From Middle English hertles, herteles, from Old English heortl?as (“without courage; listless”), equivalent to heart +? -less.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?h??t.l?s/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h??t.l?s/
• Hyphenation: heart?less

Adjective

heartless (comparative more heartless, superlative most heartless)

1. (obsolete) Without courage; fearful, cowardly. [10th–19th c.]
   • 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, II.iii.7:

     Cecilia then, though almost heartless, resolved upon talking with Mr. Harrel himself […].

2. (now rare) Listless, unenthusiastic. [from 14th c.]
3. Without a physical heart. [from 15th c.]
4. Without feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring. [from 16th c.]

   His heartless actions and cold manner left her saddened and feeling alone.

Derived terms

• heartlessly
• heartlessness

Translations

Anagrams

• Earthless, earthless, hartlesse, shearlets