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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ardent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ardent are fervent, fervid, impassioned, passionate, and perfervid. While all these words mean "showing intense feeling," ardent implies an intense degree of zeal, devotion, or enthusiasm.

an ardent supporter of human rights

When is fervent a more appropriate choice than ardent?

The words fervent and ardent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fervent stresses sincerity and steadiness of emotional warmth or zeal.

fervent good wishes

When is it sensible to use fervid instead of ardent?

While the synonyms fervid and ardent are close in meaning, fervid suggests warmly and spontaneously and often feverishly expressed emotion.

fervid love letters

When can impassioned be used instead of ardent?

While in some cases nearly identical to ardent, impassioned implies warmth and intensity without violence and suggests fluent verbal expression.

an impassioned plea for justice

When could passionate be used to replace ardent?

In some situations, the words passionate and ardent are roughly equivalent. However, passionate implies great vehemence and often violence and wasteful diffusion of emotion.

a passionate denunciation

When might perfervid be a better fit than ardent?

The meanings of perfervid and ardent largely overlap; however, perfervid implies the expression of exaggerated or overwrought feelings.

perfervid expressions of patriotism

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ardent The setback left even the most ardent activists wondering if the pushback was worth it. Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2025 Cruise has long been an ardent advocate of the theatrical experience, and often participates in CinemaCon — even if from afar because of shooting commitments or postproduction schedules. Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025 Most of the protests have focused on President Donald Trump's policies and Elon Musk's sweeping federal cuts, of which Greene has been an ardent supporter. Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025 The iconic singer was shot and killed in 1995, and this somber milestone was not missed by many of her most ardent supporters. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ardent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ardent
Adjective
  • For those passionate about handheld PC gaming, the Asus ROG Ally is definitely worth your attention.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
  • Forest fans had been outstanding at Wembley, offering passionate backing on a showpiece occasion.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Most people – even the most avid birders and aviculturists – have never seen nor even heard about these Neotropical parrots, and to the best of my knowledge, they are not kept in any zoo collections.
    GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Comments As an avid shopper, my closet is often overflowing with clothes, which makes packing for trips a precarious experience.
    Bria McNeal, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas.
    Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020
  • If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.
    Washington Post, Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019
Adjective
  • On Capitol Hill, even some of Trump's most fervent supporters have rebuked Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for their removal of those positions.
    Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • This is one of the situations where even the most fervent ‘anti-muted celebration’ crowd could forgive a player for toning things down a bit.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Clarkson previously told Billboard that Martin was enthusiastic about the pitch from the start.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 May 2025
  • Once the team saw concrete productivity improvements, skepticism shifted to enthusiastic adoption.
    Vivek Vishal, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Pritzker — who was rumored to be on the shortlist to be former Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate last year — issued a searing rebuke of the Trump administration, in his address.
    Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Her viral speech in Minneapolis in 2020 remains one of the most searing indictments of state violence in recent memory.
    Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Asked about plans for a parade, Army spokesman Steve Warren said Thursday that no final decisions have been made. Col. Dave Butler, another Army spokesman, added that the Army is excited about the plans for its anniversary.
    Lolita C. Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
  • And for toddlers who aren’t always amendable to sitting down at the dinner table, anything that might help them get excited about mealtimes is going to be a win for parents, too.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • South Florida: While the region is expected to experience another hot and dry day besides a few stray late afternoon showers, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. April 29.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Set Up Shaded Locations On hot summer days, a shaded spot to cool off and lounge in is imperative.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ardent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ardent. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

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