Violence (8)
I believe the answer is:
ferocity
'violence' is the definition.
(synonyms)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for ferocity that I've seen before include "Savagery, fierceness" , "State of savagery and violence" , "Savage cruelty of temperament" , "Wild savagery" , "Unrestrained and cruel savagery" .)