ardent

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adjective ar·dent \ ˈär-dᵊnt \

Definition of ardent

1 :characterized by warmth of feeling typically expressed in eager zealous support or activity

ardent proponents of the bill

an ardent admirer

ardent fans

2 :fiery, hot

an ardent sun

3 :shining, glowing

ardent eyes

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ardently

adverb

See ardent defined for English-language learners

See ardent defined for kids

Examples of ardent in a Sentence

These ardent young nationalists, mostly still in their 20s and impatient for freedom, had acquired arms from sympathetic nationalist officers in the Indian army … —Gita Mehta, Vogue, April 1997
In fact, Gorbachev told me, a schoolboy essay he'd written on the virtues of Stalin was considered so ardent and exemplary that "for years thereafter other children were made to read it." —David Remnick, New Yorker, 18 Nov. 1996
During the fourth century, pagan piety in the upper classes became more elevated, more ardent, and more mystical. —Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993
made ardent declarations of love to the woman he someday hoped to marry
an ardent science-fiction fan who has read virtually all of his favorite author's many works

Recent Examples of ardent from the Web

The university in February decided to rename Calhoun College because its namesake — 19th century alumnus and former U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun — was an ardent supporter of slavery.

— dave collins, courant.com, "Yale To Remove Carving With Gun Pointed At Native American," 22 Aug. 2017
Despite its ardent fans, the company has failed to achieve significant earnings or sales growth due to sluggish customer traffic and heightened competition in the industry.

— samantha bomkamp, chicagotribune.com, "Potbelly considers selling itself, reports second-quarter loss," 4 Aug. 2017
But the point is that his ardent pursuit is in no way sincere.

— allison p. davis, The Cut, "Who Is the Biggest Fuccboi on Game of Thrones?," 30 July 2017
Starting next week, ardent Muppet fans may notice something a little different about Kermit the Frog.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Kermit the Frog Gets a New Voice for the First Time in 27 Years," 13 July 2017
Free Speech on Facebook's Public Square Jaffer is an affable, ardent 40-something with a sparkling legal resume: Harvard Law Review, clerk to the Chief Justice of Canada and, most recently, deputy legal director of the ACLU.

— jeff john roberts, Fortune, "Fighting for Free Speech in the Age of Trump and Twitter," 3 July 2017
Obamacare has always been an abomination to Steelmon, an ardent supporter of repeal.

— latimes.com, "Watch live: President Trump and South Korea president deliver joint statements at White House," 30 June 2017
This live blog is an ardent Woj supporter, and the Woj has spoken: Jayson Tatum is going No.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Live updates and commentary on the 2017 NBA draft," 22 June 2017
Yet its keen characterizations, ardent conscience and brilliant writing on a sentence level make the years this tale has taken to arrive somewhat understandable.

— kathleen rooney, chicagotribune.com, "'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness': Arundhati Roy’s long-awaited new novel is grand and perplexing," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ardent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ardent

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ardent-, ardens, present participle of ardēre to burn, from ardor

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First Known Use: 14th century

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ardent Synonyms

Synonyms

fervent, blazing, burning, charged, demonstrative, emotional, fervid, feverish, fiery, flaming, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, intense, passional, passionate, perfervid, red-hot, religious, superheated, torrid, vehement, warm, warm-blooded

Antonyms

cold, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional

Related Words

gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, sugary; histrionic, melodramatic; enthusiastic, gung ho, keen, zealous; enamored, infatuated, obsessed; uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained; frenzied, orgiastic, overemotional, overexcited, overheated

Near Antonyms

detached, dry, impersonal, objective; reserved, undemonstrative

Synonym Discussion of ardent

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

ARDENT Defined for English Language Learners

ardent

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adjective

Definition of ardent for English Language Learners

: having or showing very strong feelings

ARDENT Defined for Kids

ardent

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adjective ar·dent \ ˈär-dᵊnt \

Definition of ardent for Students

:showing or having warmth of feeling :passionate

She's an ardent supporter of education.

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ardently

adverb

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See words that rhyme with ardent Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ardent Spanish Central: Translation of ardent Nglish: Translation of ardent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ardent for Arabic speakers

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Examples of ardent in a Sentence

Recent Examples of ardent from the Web

Origin and Etymology of ardent

ardent Synonyms

Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of ardent

ARDENT Defined for English Language Learners

ardent

Definition of ardent for English Language Learners

ARDENT Defined for Kids

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ardently

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