Definition of ardentnext
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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 Helsinki and Jyväskylä provide the clearest and most manageable introduction for all but the most ardent students of architecture. David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Wherever Flock controversies bubble to the surface, police come out of the woodwork as the company’s most ardent defenders. Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 30 July 2026 Still, unhappiness — even among his most ardent supporters — is testing his grip on Russia. Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 27 July 2026 The Tennessee native had been a crane operator, homestead farmer and ardent hunter, according to an online obituary. Robin Gibson, USA Today, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ardent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ardent
Adjective
  • My parents were largely self-educated after high school, and both were passionate readers.
    Geoffrey O’Brien, The New York Review of Books, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Everton is the constant, but nonetheless passionate, underdog.
    Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Off set, Curry was an avid horticulturalist and worked on gardens across his own residences as well as in the homes of friends—among them, Freddie Mercury.
    Irene Borger, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The strong first half comes as Lego continues to expand its product catalog, capturing new customers and retaining its already avid fan base of brick builders.
    Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Yet many Culers question why Atletico would want to keep a player who doesn’t want to be at the club against his will, and who has now clearly lost the support of the Spanish capital outfit’s fervent fans.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The entire gymnasium roared with claps and cheers, the loudest and most fervent applause of the evening.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But another group of residents has been enthusiastic about Amazon and the park, saying the city has to do something to revitalize itself.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The service The team are friendly, enthusiastic, and genuinely warm, made even more memorable by their vibrant, patterned uniforms that bring extra character to the experience.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Even with no rate increase, though, Tulsa electric bills would be spiking this year because of searing summer heat, with more than twice the average number of triple-digit days.
    Scott Horsley, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Clock hands circle predictably and calendar pages turn on schedule, but internally, within our bodies, minds and hearts, time is a whole different thing — discontinuous, wondrous, searing.
    Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
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
  • On the opposite sideline, Trimble Tech Head Coach MK Hamilton entered the season with a more experienced roster and was excited about the leadership his veteran players bring.
    Riley Ledesma, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Atlanta native is excited to carry his dreams and the family name forward.
    PJ Green August 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ardent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ardent. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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