passionate

adjective

pas·​sion·​ate ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce passionate (audio)
1
a
: easily aroused to anger
a passionate but not a vicious boyH. E. Scudder
b
: filled with anger : angry
was passionate in her defense of her cub, and rage transformed herG. D. Brown
2
a
: capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling
a passionate performance
a passionate coach
b
: enthusiastic, ardent
is passionate about basketball
3
: swayed by or affected with sexual desire
a passionate love affair
passionateness noun
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
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.
In their sultry dance, Robert took charge in the passionate performance. Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025 East Fork gained a passionate following for its signature mugs sometime around 2019, but the brand has been producing ceramic dinnerware in North Carolina since founder Alex Matisse (yes, the great-grandchild of that Matisse) started the business in 2010. Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025 In the play, Tesman is described as portly and characterized as distinctly dim, and feels too soft to even foster real, passionate envy of Lovborg. Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025 Plemons juggles passionate righteousness and relatable vulnerability. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for passionate

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of passionate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passionate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

passionate

adjective
pas·​sion·​ate ˈpash-(ə-)nət How to pronounce passionate (audio)
1
: excited or easily excited to strong feeling
2
: showing or expressing strong feeling
3
: strongly affected with sexual desire
passionately adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on passionate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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