Definition of FERVOR

Examples of fervor in a Sentence

As Nina has grown more observant, Andras has become distanced from her. Her religious fervor doesn't interest him. Coming to tradition late, Nina has all the pedantry of an autodidact. Her strivings seem inauthentic to Andras, and not at all spiritual. —Allegra Goodman, Kaaterskill Falls, 1998
Certainly being the son of a pastor had contributed to Vincent's religiosity, but in time even his father was disturbed by the growing intensity of his son's fervor. —Michael Kimmelman, New York Times Book Review, 12 Aug. 1990
In her renewed fervor, Norma fears that the past decade has turned women inward, away from one another, and away, too, from the notion that solidarity among women is ultimately a source of personal strength. —Anita Shreve, New York Times Magazine, 6 July 1986
Reciting, her voice took on resonance and firmness, it rang with the old fervor, with ferocity even. —Eudora Welty, One Writer's Beginnings, 1983
The fervor surrounding her campaign continued right through election day.
The novel captures the revolutionary fervor of the period.

Recent Examples of fervor from the Web

From the military's determined recruitment of IT specialists to the patriotic fervor of hackers in their bedrooms, the age of what Shoigu likes to call 'information warfare forces' is here to stay.

— tim lister, CNN, "Patriot games: The murky world of Russian hacking", 2 June 2017
Republicans seized the Senate and House by electing candidates driven by differing emphases: tea party ardor, pro-business tax-cutting fervor or culturally conservative social views.

— cathleen decker, latimes.com, "In President Trump's wake, divisions mark both Democratic and Republican parties", 31 May 2017
Throughout the West, a wave of anti-establishment fervor was rising, and Germany had become the alliance’s stalwart.

— dexter filkins, The New Yorker, "James Mattis, a Warrior in Washington", 29 May 2017
Marooned at sea, the plan seems to be to just ride the anti-Trump fervor wave all the way back into shore.

— danny westneat, The Seattle Times, "Democrats are supposed to be fighting back, but they just keep losing", 26 May 2017
In 2016, the festival presented upcoming dancehall star Dexta Daps, Bob Marley's youngest son Damian, U.S. Virgin Island pop hit makers R. City, Trinidad's Kes The Band, and rapper 50 Cent, all received with equal fervor.

— patricia meschino, Billboard, "7 Caribbean Music Festivals That Get It Right", 26 May 2017
Hearty yet shadowy, fanfarelike orchestral bursts alternated with his wistful playing of ruminative passages for violin, rich with Slavic fervor and plaintive lyricism.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: A Fast-Rising Czech Conductor Leads the Philharmonic", 26 May 2017
The arguments echo the kind of anti-establishment fervor that supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders displayed last year.

— christine mai-duc, latimes.com, "Candidates in race to replace Becerra complain of 'dirty tricks' in state party endorsement of assemblyman", 6 Feb. 2017
A sea gull or two will swoop over the bronze statue of writer Jack London frozen in oratorical fervor.

— Honolulu Star-Advertiser, "Bay-side city’s public square gets a boost from tech boom", 1 Jan. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of fervor

Middle English fervour, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French fervur, from Latin fervor, from fervēre —see fervent

First Known Use: 14th century

fervor Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of fervor

passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action. passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable. was a slave to his passions fervor implies a warm and steady emotion. read the poem aloud with great fervor ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived. the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity. never showed much enthusiasm for sports zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause. preaches with fanatical zeal

fervor