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encarnizado

fierce

adjective en-kar-nee-SAH-doh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Also means

bitter

Usage Note

Encarnizado describes a conflict or competition that is fierce, brutal, and relentless — literally 'inflamed with carnage'. It comes from carne (flesh) via encarnizarse ('to fight savagely'). It is used almost exclusively with nouns like lucha, combate, debate, or rivalidad, and always implies hostility rather than mere intensity.

Examples

"Fue un encarnizado debate entre los candidatos."

Natural Translation

It was a fierce debate between the candidates.

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