Entry Word: ardor

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 depth of feeling <candidates for citizenship reciting the oath of allegiance to the United States with all the ardor that they could muster>

Synonyms emotion, fervency, fervidness, fervor, heat, intensity, passion, vehemence, warmth

Related Words histrionics, mawkishness, melodrama, sappiness, sentimentality; eagerness, earnestness, enthusiasm, excitement, gusto, zest; fanaticism, fever, fire, hot-bloodedness, infatuation, mania, obsession, zeal; compassion, responsiveness, sympathy, tenderness

Near Antonyms aloofness, calmness, coldness, collectedness, composure, coolness, detachedness, dryness, phlegm, reserve, reservedness, reticence, taciturnity; apathy, indifference, unconcern; stiffness, woodenness

Antonyms impassivity

2 urgent desire or interest <in my ardor to get started on the hike, I forgot to pack a canteen> — see eagerness