1
as in hard
with great effort or determination
struggled intensely to master the language of her adopted country
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extremely
to a great degree
the senate race was intensely close
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intensely
These words were intensely politically damaging to Biden, yet Hur did not worry that Biden lacked a legal forum to contest Hur’s assessment.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Occasionally the focus drops to the fishermen’s crustacean quarry in the deep, also guarded and unhurried but intensely vulnerable; the man-lobster parallel isn’t stretched to the point of contrivance, but the film takes a thoughtfully holistic view of all the region’s living inhabitants.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
The University of Wisconsin’s guide also recommends trapping a small area intensely (one dozen traps in a private dwelling) rather than a large area sparsely.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Their blink-and-you’ll-miss-it season, combined with their intensely savory flavor, is what sends some cooks into a frenzy every spring.
—Kelly Vaughan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
For the most part, rich hair masks are the ultimate split-end menders because they’re packed with intensely moisturizing, reparative ingredients.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Rock-shrimp linguine, for example, might show up at all sorts of restaurants in the city, but Doris infuses Markette’s version with Scotch bonnets, an intensely hot staple of Caribbean cuisine.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2026
Few places have caught the K-pop bug as intensely as Latin America.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Here, books that can seem overwhelming—books of dreams, infinity, mysteries—turn out to be intensely accessible, offering so many different ways to read them and think with them.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Occasionally the focus drops to the fishermen’s crustacean quarry in the deep, also guarded and unhurried but intensely vulnerable; the man-lobster parallel isn’t stretched to the point of contrivance, but the film takes a thoughtfully holistic view of all the region’s living inhabitants.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
The University of Wisconsin’s guide also recommends trapping a small area intensely (one dozen traps in a private dwelling) rather than a large area sparsely.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Their blink-and-you’ll-miss-it season, combined with their intensely savory flavor, is what sends some cooks into a frenzy every spring.
—Kelly Vaughan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
For the most part, rich hair masks are the ultimate split-end menders because they’re packed with intensely moisturizing, reparative ingredients.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
Rock-shrimp linguine, for example, might show up at all sorts of restaurants in the city, but Doris infuses Markette’s version with Scotch bonnets, an intensely hot staple of Caribbean cuisine.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2026
Few places have caught the K-pop bug as intensely as Latin America.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Here, books that can seem overwhelming—books of dreams, infinity, mysteries—turn out to be intensely accessible, offering so many different ways to read them and think with them.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intensely
Adverb
-
They are being hit so hard, anybody would be negotiating.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
There is serious concern that a stoppage that costs games could dampen the enthusiasm the sport worked hard to rebuild.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The particles that make up these dark nebulae are of a finite size, and that size is extremely good at absorbing visible light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
-
David’s view The voters most keen to talk with political reporters are, typically, extremely engaged in politics.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
There are many good reasons to intensively treat high blood pressure, but the benefits accumulate over many years.—
Mara Gordon,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Young people feel this most intensively.—
Stuart A. Spencer,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
In the transfer portal era, making contributions at a championship-caliber program like Ohio State as a true freshman are incredibly rare.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The first thing that struck me was the gold necklace’s incredibly lightweight nature, clocking in at just 25 grams.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Dressed in beige prison outfits and separated from each other by their lawyers, Maduro and his wife wore headsets to hear the translation of the proceedings into Spanish and appeared to be listening intently as the arguments were presented.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
-
As Truell takes a Zoom call, the image of Caro—legendary biographer of Lyndon Johnson and Robert Moses, known for his exhaustive, decades-long research—looms over his shoulder, sweatered, bespectacled, writing intently.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Although winds will be mostly light, between 5 and 10 mph, the dry air combined with very dry vegetation will result in a continuation of elevated fire danger.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Bartle may have been right, but for some Chiefs fans and stadium developers with billions of public dollars at stake, that state line probably feels very real.—
Elijah Winkler,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Caleb practiced the Chappell Roan hit diligently with his piano teacher, Lori Stemmer, even rehearsing in his inflatable suit.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
For 10 years, Frances has worked diligently to become the perfect wife for Jo.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Had something gone terribly, terribly wrong?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Something is terribly wrong in Chicago.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intensely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intensely. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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