fervor

noun fer·vor \ ˈfər-vər \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of fervor

1 : intensity of feeling or expression

booing and cheering with almost equal fervor
—Alan Rich

revolutionary fervor

2 : intense heat

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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

This fervor signals a 180 in our attitudes and appetites.

— jolene edgar, Allure, "Why Face Wash Is the Fastest Growing Skin-Care Category," 3 Apr. 2018
Nobody wants to look at this guy [Donald Trump] talk and kick up this fervor and bring out the worst in everybody.

— adrienne green, The Atlantic, "Jesse Williams and John Legend on the Challenge of Creating Meaningful Art," 2 Apr. 2018
Even while the fervor for cryptocurrency poster child Bitcoin cools, investors are still piling onto what’s expected to be the largest initial coin offering yet—that of messaging app Telegram.

— lucinda shen, Fortune, "Even as Bitcoin Languishes, Telegram Raises $1.7 Billion Ahead of Largest ICO Ever," 30 Mar. 2018
The hip-hop sets generated bigger crowds and more fervor, but they were also dappled with nostalgia for WAY back in the earlier aughts: Ying Yang Twins, T-Pain.

— andrew dansby, Houston Chronicle, "Final thoughts on Houston's In Bloom festival," 26 Mar. 2018
Rose Kagawa, 33, saidthe political fervor intimidates her.

— william wan, chicagotribune.com, "Tenacious new gun researchers are determined to break cycle of mass shootings," 25 Mar. 2018
Part of that promise is steeped in nationalism, and there's perhaps no other issue that whips up more nationalist fervor inside China than the issue of Taiwan.

— joshua berlinger, CNN, "With option to rule for life, China's Xi sets sights on Taiwan," 20 Mar. 2018
Two new assaults over the weekend fanned the fervor.

— elaine ganley, The Seattle Times, "Guards block French prisons as assault protest enters week 2," 22 Jan. 2018
The legacy: Comer's leadership in New Orleans' post-Katrina entrepreneurial fervor started in 2010 with the founding of Federated Sample, an online firm that gave marketing and advertising firms easy access to large pools of survey takers.

— contributing writer, NOLA.com, "New face, new ideas helping to build a new New Orleans," 23 Mar. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

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.