passionate

adjective

pas·​sion·​ate ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce passionate (audio)
Synonyms of passionate
1
a
: capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling
a passionate performance
a passionate coach
b
: enthusiastic, ardent
is passionate about basketball
2
: swayed by or affected with sexual desire and often romantic feeling
a passionate love affair
a long, passionate kiss
3
a
: easily aroused to anger
… a passionate but not a vicious boy …—H. E. Scudder
b
: filled with anger : angry
She was passionate in her defense of her cub, and rage transformed her.—G. D. Brown
passionateness noun

Synonyms of passionate

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impassioned, passionate, ardent, fervent, fervid, perfervid mean showing intense feeling.

impassioned implies warmth and intensity without violence and suggests fluent verbal expression.

an impassioned plea for justice

passionate implies great vehemence and often violence and wasteful diffusion of emotion.

a passionate denunciation

ardent implies an intense degree of zeal, devotion, or enthusiasm.

an ardent supporter of human rights

fervent stresses sincerity and steadiness of emotional warmth or zeal.

fervent good wishes

fervid suggests warmly and spontaneously and often feverishly expressed emotion.

fervid love letters

perfervid implies the expression of exaggerated or overwrought feelings.

perfervid expressions of patriotism

Examples of passionate in a Sentence

He gave a passionate speech on tax reform. She has a passionate interest in animal rights. She is passionate about art. We were moved by his passionate plea for forgiveness.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Tearing up, Patty Esquetini, the mother of Giancarlo Arias, remembered her son as a talented young man who was passionate about art. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026 Her scenes with Ford are pained and passionate, filled with the alchemy of two lonely people who get through to one other and find something like solace through desire. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026 In all seriousness, the now-46-year-old grew up studying — and remains very passionate about — the art of magic. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 For a country full of passionate racing fans, the 73-year wait for an Italian champ is puzzling. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for passionate

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of passionate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for passionate

See All Rhymes for passionate

Browse Nearby Words

passionary
passionate
passionately
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Cite this Entry

“Passionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passionate. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

passionate

adjective
pas·​sion·​ate ˈpash-(ə-)nət How to pronounce passionate (audio)
1
: excited or easily excited to strong feeling
2
: showing or expressing strong feeling
3
: strongly affected with sexual desire
passionately adverb
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