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a passionate interest
an enthusiastic interest
a devoted interest
an eager interest
a profound interest
a deep interest
a passionate debate
an intense debate
a heated debate
a vigorous debate
a furious debate
a violent debate
passionate love
heated love
sensual love
intense love

Synonym Chooser

How is the word passionate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of passionate are ardent, fervent, fervid, impassioned, and perfervid. While all these words mean "showing intense feeling," passionate implies great vehemence and often violence and wasteful diffusion of emotion.

a passionate denunciation

When could ardent be used to replace passionate?

While in some cases nearly identical to passionate, ardent implies an intense degree of zeal, devotion, or enthusiasm.

an ardent supporter of human rights

When is it sensible to use fervent instead of passionate?

Although the words fervent and passionate have much in common, fervent stresses sincerity and steadiness of emotional warmth or zeal.

fervent good wishes

When is fervid a more appropriate choice than passionate?

While the synonyms fervid and passionate are close in meaning, fervid suggests warmly and spontaneously and often feverishly expressed emotion.

fervid love letters

When can impassioned be used instead of passionate?

The words impassioned and passionate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impassioned implies warmth and intensity without violence and suggests fluent verbal expression.

an impassioned plea for justice

When might perfervid be a better fit than passionate?

The words perfervid and passionate can be used in similar contexts, but perfervid implies the expression of exaggerated or overwrought feelings.

perfervid expressions of patriotism

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 passionate His passionate commitment to Christianity led to a compassionate attention to his fellow human beings, as well as a fearless urge to correct wrongdoing. Time, 27 May 2025 The vibrant musical, a salute to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and ’30s, celebrates Black excellence, creativity and joy with exuberant and passionate singing and dancing, gorgeous period costumes and ebullient choreography. Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025 Plaza plays a cop who Qualley has a passionate love affair with until things turn sour. Zack Sharf, Variety, 27 May 2025 It’s been possible, but hard to find Fettercairn from independent bottlers in the United States, and those who seek it out are passionate about it, Boice said. Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for passionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passionate
Adjective
  • Pour hot cream over chocolate chips in a large heatproof mixing bowl; let stand 3 minutes.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
  • Science funding is a hot topic these days and people have questions about how grants work.
    Kelly S. Mix, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • The resulting jump in bond yields to near two-decade highs raised long-term borrowing costs and served as a stark warning for the path ahead that was echoed privately by a handful of Trump allies and to CNN and publicly by one of Trump’s most fervent defenders.
    Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
  • In Jimmy Carter's case, transparency about melanoma that had spread to his brain in 2015, as well as his fervent religious faith and subsequent recovery from the dreaded disease, only made the former president seem heroic.
    Barbara A. Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • But for his versatility, the variety in his attacking link-up and movement, and his ever-presence in a tough City season, there is reason to be excited for what lies ahead.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Artist Tina Birkhoff said this was her first year displaying her work at the event and was very excited to be at the show over the weekend.
    David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • The lustful reggaeton-bachata song about a twisted love affair would shock fans upon its release in the spring of 2005.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
  • One of my obsessions is the hip-hop love song, and how the exaggerated, theatrical, and lustful nature of the genre makes for some of the realest and funniest depictions of catching feelings.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • And waters in the eastern subtropical Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean are warmer than normal for this time of year.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2025
  • But has life ever gotten better than a warm nighttime in the stands during a pitchers’ duel with a beer and a hot dog?
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Tranter and Bartlett said Trump may settle roughly into this range of having an approval rating between 43 percent and 47 percent given the intense polarization of the country, as has been common in the past couple administrations.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 31 May 2025
  • Residents of Maoming, China were treated to a celestial light show earlier this week when a surprise fireball burst to life overhead, illuminating the city before disappearing in an intense flare of light.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Season eight will premiere on May 23 — that gives everybody involved one more month of the horniest season (spring) to get in the mood.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Diaz is accompanied by an immortal knight, a resourceful swashbuckler, an elderly vampire, a horny werewolf and an elf who can turn invisible (using a power that reminded me of Doli from The Prydain Chronicles).
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Doyle, dressed in a black suit, looked emotional as he was brought into the courtroom from his cell, according to a PA Media reporter following proceedings.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
  • What To Know Dixon, who has lived in the U.S. for 50 years after arriving from the Philippines at age 14, was emotional following her release.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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