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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 That’s because the date’s numerals combine to form a rare numerical trick that even the most ardent math hater will appreciate. Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025 Princess Charlene herself is an ardent admirer of Louis Vuitton’s designs. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025 Jimmy Kimmel’s fellow late-night hosts have, unsurprisingly, been among his most ardent defenders. Judy Berman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025 Our chat with Nate Morris deserved a headline of its own — Kirk attended Morris' campaign kickoff three months ago in Shepherdsville and was an ardent supporter of the candidate. Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ardent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ardent
Adjective
  • Both songs appear to be passionate ballads by the two impressive vocalists, with Erivo lending her melodic riff to Dorothy’s iconic line.
    Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Kaif Shaikh Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • According to concerned parents, Henrikson was an avid supporter of fellow 6th-grade teacher Jeanine Rupert, who was reassigned by the district following an incident towards the end of the previous school year.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
  • In 2006, Clendenen — an avid runner and reader in her down time — joined the San Diego Police Department with an interest in investigations.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
    Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • In monetizing each listen, Spotify gave artists distinct incentives to cultivate fervent fan loyalty.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
  • In doing so, Loyd alerted the Mercury’s fervent crowd, known for rattling opponents, its mojo wouldn’t work on this foe.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Schmidt's presence courtside -- always adorned in the team's maroon and gold colors -- and her enthusiastic cheering on of the team drew attention from fans and national broadcasters.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The answer is an enthusiastic yes.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • His own divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh informed his Oscar-winning Marriage Story (2019), a searing look at love unraveling.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
  • And McConaughey, as a nervy reluctant hero, steers the searing, intense narrative about normal people living through the most hellish of circumstances.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
Adjective
  • Jones is particularly excited about the opportunities for personalization.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • But while countless fans couldn’t be more excited for Bad Bunny’s showcase, other people — including the president of the United States — aren’t as keen that a primarily Spanish-speaking artist got the gig.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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