Fierce in the present, say (7)
I believe the answer is:
intense
'fierce' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'in the present say' is the wordplay.
'the present say' becomes 'tense' (present tense).
'in'+'tense'='INTENSE'
(Other definitions for intense that I've seen before include "'Acute, extreme (7)'" , "Forceful, concentrated" , "Fervent" , "burning" , "Great" .)