The Meaning of mōretsu [猛烈] In Japanese

猛烈
もうれつ
Romaji: mōretsu N1

What does 猛烈 mean?

Translation and Meaning

fierce, intense, violent

Definition

It means extremely intense or fierce in degree, describing force, action, or emotion that is strong, harsh, or vehement in nature.

Type

na-adjective (形容動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Extreme intensity or ferocity in a noun phrase such as wind, heat, or an attack
  • Vehement or aggressive behavior or actions
  • As an adverb, 猛烈に expresses doing something with great speed or force

Composition

  • 猛: fierce, wild
  • 烈: intense, vehement
  • Together they form 猛烈, conveying extreme intensity or ferocity

Usage

Used as a na-adjective before a noun with 猛烈な to modify the noun, or in adverbial form 猛烈に to modify a verb. It appears in formal writing, journalism, sports commentary, and literary or historical texts, with examples such as 猛烈な風 or 猛烈に速い.
💡 Tips
Visualize a wild beast (猛) charging with scorching heat (烈); the combination signals extreme strength and urgency, a memory cue for meaning fierce or intensely powerful.

Variations

  • 激しい (hageshii) – intense
  • 過激な (kageki na) – extreme, radical
  • 穏やかな (odayaka na) – mild, gentle

Example Phrases

  • 今日は猛烈な風で、洗濯物が飛んだ。
    Kyou wa mōretsu na kaze de, sentakumono ga tonda.
    Today a fierce wind blew, and the laundry flew away.
    Lista:
    • 今日 (kyou) – today
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 猛烈な風 (mōretsu na kaze) – fierce wind
    • で (de) – by; due to
    • 洗濯物 (sentakumono) – laundry
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 飛んだ (tonda) – flew
    In this sentence, 「猛烈」 is used as a na-adjective with な to modify 「風」, meaning fierce/intense.
猛烈