What does "fierce" even mean?

[Vega Magnus]

I've seen the term "fierce" thrown around a lot here, but I'm still not sure what it means.

 

[lucy92]

it was a term popularized by tyra banks on her show "america's next top model". i think its a total cliche.

per wiktionary.org

1. (slang, US) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah. Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce.

 

[pellucid]

fierce (fîrs)
adj. fierc·er, fierc·est
1. Having a savage and violent nature; ferocious. See Synonyms at cruel.
2. Extremely severe or violent; terrible: "the fierce thunders roar me their music" (Ezra Pound).
3. Extremely intense or ardent: fierce loyalty. See Synonyms at intense.
4. Strenuously active or resolute: a fierce attempt to escape.
5. Informal Very difficult or unpleasant: a fierce exam.
6. Savage or threatening in appearance.

Source: thefreedictionary

 

[Unknownpleasures]

1. Fierce 696 up, 152 down
A term that gay men used in the late 1990s and early 2000s to describe absolutely everything that was of "exceptional quality".
How was that circuit party?
Oh my god, it was fierce.

3. fierce 83 up, 44 down
a term used in fashion for cool, sexy, awesome, or any other positive remark about something. it is most famously used by christian sirianos, project runway winner, and tyra banks.
Damn that dress is so fierce! I love it!

Look at that model and her feirce little strut!

From urban dictionary

 

[SabrinaNicole]

Christian Siriano wrote a book about "how to be fierce" a few years ago; I think the term is starting to be a little less trendy than it used to be. Refers to those who have strong self image and are fearless in their personal style, life, career etc.: the total package, people who have it all, do it all, look the part, are intelligent and really care....

Nah it's mostly just a pyschobabble phrase that caught on and used to sound cool but now sounds slightly dated. Expired, as Christian would say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kI_vFYQ_lc

 

[Style Savvy]

I hate this word so much with passion. I think it's cliché and overused. I just want to puke everytime I hear it.

 

[LiranYana]

when I think of fierce,
I think of a lion or a scary animal

nothing more did you hear that Tyra

 

[Hoother]

It is a word that should never be used. Haven't you read my signature?

 

[purplethistle]

When talking about fashion I hate using the word 'fierce'. But when I do I'm thinking along the lines of "I never want to cross paths with ____ ".

 

[bontempi]

Gay men end of 90ies? LOL! Tyra? LOL!
RuPaul and almost every other ****** on vinyl used the word to death between 1991 and 93 And even the Dutch Techno act "Fierce Ruling Diva" had their name in 1990...

 

[coco vaughn]

i thought it was like 'sexy' +'wild' +'cool' + 'stunning', etc. you know

 

[1FashionVictim]

I assumed that it was used in the industry before being popularised by Tyra Banks: I've seen 'fierce' being used by industry professionals (who'd be considered more respectable by members here) on several other TV shows that focus on modelling, even episodes of Model TV from the 90s.

 

[hysteria]

It is a word that should never be used. Haven't you read my signature?

hmmm

fourfour.typepad

 

[carmen_kass]

I love that gif, Tyra is a Genius.

 

[bontempi]

Way back from 1992 and it explains it quite well

http://youtu.be/uq7KrvuStzc

 

[Melisande]

Thank goodness it's on the decline...I hated it since the first time I heard it used in this context...

When a word as cringeworthy as "juicy" gets popularized as it was in the nineties, it's only natural that "fierce" was next in line... Ewwww!

So what's next, I wonder...

 

[bontempi]

Oh yeah that's so true! But Tyra 10 years later.....errrm...

 

[Hoother]

hmmm

fourfour.typepad

 

[LiranYana]

^

 

[Lalique]

Yes, but Christian Siriano does produce some "fierce" looks in his work. Is an attitude, but the term did get overused.