passion

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as in crush
a strong but often short-lived liking for another person her passion passed when she got to know him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in feeling
passions plural general emotional condition people who are swayed by their passions and not by reason

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word passion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of passion are affection, emotion, feeling, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When is it sensible to use affection instead of passion?

The synonyms affection and passion are sometimes interchangeable, but affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

How are the words emotion and feeling related as synonyms of passion?

Emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses.

the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence

When would feeling be a good substitute for passion?

The meanings of feeling and passion largely overlap; however, feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it.

the feelings that once moved me are gone

When can sentiment be used instead of passion?

The words sentiment and passion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of passion For now, on his actual birthday, Nadel is happy with his fries, lounging in a booth and telling stories, mostly about music, which is Nadel’s primary passion — even more than sports at this stage, though sometimes the two intertwine. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2025 That is until The Final Reckoning, in which Ethan’s passion for Grace is unambiguously revealed to be more than friendship. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 23 May 2025 Last May, Worl shared her hopes of turning her passion into a career with her friend Melody Thebeau, one of the owners of SacYard Community Tap House, who pointed her in the direction of Lucas Thompson. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025 Back then, classic Defenders weren’t very common in the U.S., but Marcello had fallen in love with the car as a teenager, and buying one was the continuation of what has become a lifelong passion. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for passion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passion
Noun
  • Comments beneath the post were sincere and heartfelt, with over 18,000 people sharing their love for the lab and thanking her family for brightening their days.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • With umbrellas tossed aside and spirits soaring, what could have been a disaster became a celebration of love and spontaneity.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • The Context Liverpool Football Club's proud legacy remains shadowed by the tragedy at Hillsborough Stadium 36 years ago, which resulted in 97 fans losing their lives following a devastating crowd crush during an FA Cup semifinal match against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium.
    Jenna Sundel Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
  • Four years later, a crush at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.
    Kwiyeon Ha, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • The signatories essentially argue that the role of court itself, as well as that of the European Convention on Human Rights, needs to be re-considered in light of states’ desire to intensify such migration control measures.
    Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • Though the setup feels familiar, the film smartly never places faith, desire, and family in simplistic opposition.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Everything gets harder when your emotions run wild and your judgment clouds.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • His evolution required alterations to his left-handed swing, learning how to channel his emotions, and even a few wake-up calls.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Such scams exploit investor enthusiasm and poor regulation to inflate prices before insiders sell off their holdings.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
  • This campaign has energized consumption enthusiasm among younger demographics.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • With a state-of-the-art new factory and a Honda works engine supply arriving from 2026, the feeling has long been that Aston’s foundations are coming together.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 31 May 2025
  • The feeling among economists is that tariffs and inflation go together.
    John Navin, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • In this intertwining tale about lust, rage, and abandonment, Alice must find her mysterious hook-up in order to save her humanity.
    Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
  • Working with producer Carter Lang of SZA and Doja Cat fame, de la Fuente is no longer trying to capture the gilded vignettes of home, but rather relaxing into the bliss of fleeting moments, creating universal depictions of lust and yearning sung in breathy registers.
    Vita Dadoo, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • The dynamic may be marked by frequent ruptures, including arguments, silent treatment or emotional withdrawal, followed by sudden closeness, reconciliation or affection.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • However, oxytocin levels don't rise from initiating interaction but only when their affection is reciprocated by their peers, which means dogs thrive on mutual companionship.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Passion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passion. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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