Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
猛烈 (もうれつ, mouretsu) Japanese meaning: fierce | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
きょう
は
猛もう
烈れつ
な
暑あつ
さ
だ
。
There was fierce opposition to his proposal.
Usage patterns 猛もう 烈れつ な 〈 物もの 〉 fierce/intense ~ (heat, opposition, momentum, etc.)
This summer, fierce heat has continued.
猛もう 烈れつ に 反はん 対たい する to fiercely oppose (something)
猛もう 烈れつ な 勢いきお いで with tremendous force/momentum
The typhoon is moving north with tremendous force.
猛もう 烈れつ に 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 to (do something) extremely/terribly
He has been working extremely hard since joining the company.
Kanji 烈 ardent, violent, vehement Related words 激しい is an i-adjective for intense or violent force (emotion, weather, activity), while 猛烈 is a na-adjective that often sounds even more extreme or emphatic.
強烈 describes something strong or powerful in impact (e.g. a smell, impression, or light), whereas 猛烈 emphasizes fierce, unrelenting intensity in action or force.
すごい is a common casual intensifier meaning 'amazing' or 'terrible', while 猛烈 is stronger and more formal as an adjective, though both can be used colloquially as adverbs.
熾烈 is a more literary word for fierce competition or fighting, while 猛烈 is broader and can describe weather, emotion, or effort as well.
猛烈 conveys raw violent intensity (e.g. a storm or attack), while 痛烈 is more narrowly tied to cutting, hurtful criticism.
Don't confuse with 猛烈 is an adjective meaning 'fierce, violent' and can describe almost anything intense, whereas 猛威 is a noun naming the destructive force itself, most often paired with 振るう.
Written forms 猛もう 烈れつ Usage 98%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
もうれつ Usage 2%
Etymology The word is composed of 猛 (fierce, violent) and 烈 (violent, intense), both carrying strong connotations. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally expresses extreme intensity.
The residents fiercely opposed the construction of the new factory.
