passionate

adjective

pas·​sion·​ate ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət 

1

a

: capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling

a passionate performance

a passionate coach

b

: enthusiastic, ardent

is passionate about basketball

2

: swayed by or affected with sexual desire and often romantic feeling

a passionate love affair

a long, passionate kiss

3

a

: easily aroused to anger

… a passionate but not a vicious boy …

—H. E. Scudder

b

: filled with anger : angry

She was passionate in her defense of her cub, and rage transformed her.

—G. D. Brown

passionateness noun

Synonyms of passionate

• intense
• emotional
• enthusiastic
• warm
• ardent
• glowing
• fervent
• demonstrative
• charged
• impassioned
• fiery
• fervid

Choose the Right Synonym for passionate

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 passionate in a Sentence

He gave a passionate speech on tax reform.

She has a passionate interest in animal rights.

She is passionate about art.

We were moved by his passionate plea for forgiveness.

Recent Examples on the Web

The temperamental Moon and passionate Mars are in a spat, but their abrupt energy can have beneficial effects for your wider circle and your more intimate connections. —Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026

Ride the thrill of Hostile Design’s passionate wails and percussion overload when the group headlines eight shows to kick off the new year, making their way across California, Rhode Island, Quebec, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Illinois with the same energy that once fueled their humble beginnings. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026

But Fieri, a passionate car collector, was cooking up something even more indulgent with the help of his friend Rory at VP Speed Shop. —Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026

And all this, not because passion is vice and moderation virtue, but because moderation is indispensable if passionate men are to escape being locked in an encounter of mutual frustration. —Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for passionate

• compassionate
• dispassionate

Kids Definition

passionate

adjective

pas·​sion·​ate ˈpash-(ə-)nət 

1

: excited or easily excited to strong feeling

2

: showing or expressing strong feeling

3

: strongly affected with sexual desire

passionately adverb