passionate

adjective

pas·​sion·​ate ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət 

1

a

: easily aroused to anger

a passionate but not a vicious boy

—H. E. Scudder

b

: filled with anger : angry

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

—G. 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

Synonyms

• concupiscent
• goatish
• horny
• hot
• hypersexual
• itchy
• lascivious
• lecherous
• lewd
• libidinous
• licentious
• lubricious
• lubricous
• lustful
• oversexed
• randy
• salacious
• satyric
• wanton

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

Yes, Mariko and Blackthorne 'pillow' for real After that emotional drama, Blackthorne enters Mariko's chambers for a passionate candlelit tryst. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024

Actually, showrunner Jeff Schaffer described the email as a passionate, personal letter from Burd to Pitt. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024

Both men engage in passionate scenes with Zendaya, making out in intense close-ups and tearing clothes off with palpable want. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024

Cooper has seen a steady flow of young drummers come through his program thanks to institutions like School of Rock Miami, where teachers are nurturing passionate artists who want to continue to hone their skills on the instrument. —Hennessy Sepulveda, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

Morgan was a legendary figure in Oakland and beyond, beloved for his conducting skills, his passionate embrace of many music genres and tireless campaign to share the orchestra’s music with people in all stages and walks of life. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

As a passionate advocate for community service, Riley has been a huge part of the National Honor Society and has helped at multiple events over the year. —Marcus Reichley, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024

Other genetic testing companies don’t yet, but passionate genealogists can take matters into their own hands. —Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024

Nettles was honored in 2020 with the show’s inaugural CMT Equal Play Award, which recognized her for her passionate advocacy and support of women in the music industry, LGBTQ+ community and other underrepresented groups. —Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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