passionate

adjective

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pas·sion·ate | \ ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət

Definition of passionate

1a : 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

2a : 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

Other Words from passionate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about passionate

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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 Pressley, 45, delivered a passionate speech during the 50th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast in Boston, Massachusetts, on Monday. — Madison Dibble, Washington Examiner, "Massachusetts governor apologizes after being ripped for calling Ayanna Pressley’s MLK speech a ‘rant’," 21 Jan. 2020 Godchaux is passionate about finding a cure for cancer and is fighting for his older sister, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer earlier this year and recently finished her chemotherapy treatments. — Omar Kelly, sun-sentinel.com, "Dolphins name Davon Godchaux team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee," 12 Dec. 2019 Another reason that Mago is passionate about advocating for gun reform is because his maternal grandfather was shot and killed during a robbery incident when Mago was only 3 months old. — Kulsoom Khan, chicagotribune.com, "Faith leaders gather in Arlington Heights for anti-gun vigil and remembrance of shooting victims, including at Sandy Hook school," 11 Dec. 2019 The radio personality gave a passionate speech in defense of Garth during his show, saying that Garth was just as deserving as Carrie Underwood to win the night’s biggest honor. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Bobby Bones Passionately Defends Garth Brooks’s Controversial CMAs Win," 18 Nov. 2019 Perhaps the most powerful and passionate part of his 50-minute speech, which went beyond the time allotted by the proceedings, was a plea to world leaders to end Islamophobia. — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, "Imran Khan at the UNGA: “There is no such thing as radical Islam”," 27 Sep. 2019 Lian is determined and passionate about empowering Arab women to achieve economic independence, raising awareness to issues pertinent to minorities, and acting as an advocate for those with invisible illnesses and different abilities. — courant.com, "Community News For The West Hartford Edition," 16 Sep. 2019 Website CherryPicks curates film reviews from women and non-binary individuals to showcase the films that often underrepresented voices are passionate about. — Kaitlin Reilly, refinery29.com, "Time’s Up Is Changing Hollywood’s Landscape, Starting With Red Carpets," 22 Jan. 2020 That’s what a passionate band of neuroscientists aspire to for the human brain: mapping the meanderings of its 86 billion neurons and their trillions of connections. — Sharon Begley, STAT, "A ‘landmark’ achievement: Scientists trace full wiring diagram of the fly brain’s core," 22 Jan. 2020

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

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Last Updated

8 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Passionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passionateness. Accessed 21 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for passionate

passionate

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of passionate

: having, showing, or expressing strong emotions or beliefs

: expressing or relating to strong sexual or romantic feelings

See the full definition for passionate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

passionate

adjective

pas·sion·ate | \ ˈpa-shə-nət

Kids Definition of passionate

1 : showing or affected by strong feeling a passionate performance “Not like cats!” cried the Mouse in a shrill, passionate voice. “Would YOU like cats if you were me?”— Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

2 : easily caused to feel strong emotions a passionate person

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