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fervent

adjective

fer·​vent ˈfər-vənt How to pronounce fervent (audio)
Synonyms of ferventnext
1
: exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling : zealous
fervent prayers
a fervent admirer/supporter/proponent
… they've built one of the most fervent fan bases in electronic music …Niyaz Pirani
2
: very hot : glowing
the fervent sun
fervently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for fervent

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 fervent in a Sentence

a fervent speech that called for tolerance and compassion for those who are different in the thick, fervent air of a tropical afternoon, a languor set in
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.
If fans are the market (with sport leaders setting direction), then fervent workers are the ones turning ideas into execution. Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2025 With the release of the first four episodes of Season 5 on November 26, fans and critics alike have returned in droves to the Upside Down, reigniting one of pop culture’s most fervent fandoms. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025 But of course, Literary Twitter had its own fervent thoughts (this is another one that just came around and around and around), and the tweet threads got so involved that some of them got repackaged as articles. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025 There wasn’t social media, and box office wasn’t the subject of fervent discussion within hours of release. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fervent

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin fervent-, fervens, present participle of fervēre to boil, froth — more at barm

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of fervent was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fervent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fervent. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

fervent

adjective
fer·​vent ˈfər-vənt How to pronounce fervent (audio)
: having or expressing great warmth or depth of feeling
a fervent hope
fervency
-vən-sē
noun
fervently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on fervent

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