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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 Vucic, a staunch nationalist and ardent ally of President Trump, has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power more than a decade ago. Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025 As a way to appeal to Iranians of the righteousness of his cause, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his surrogates have deployed tropes of civilizational greatness that would make even the most ardent Persian chauvinist blush. Shervin Malekzadeh, Mercury News, 26 June 2025 By the end, even the most ardent England supporter had to have some sympathy with Italy. Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2025 Marjorie Taylor Greene—Georgia’s 14th District The firebrand Republican has been one of Trump’s most ardent supporters on Capitol Hill since her election in 2021. Nik Popli, Time, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ardent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ardent
Adjective
  • Prince William is a passionate soccer fan and patron of the Football Association, soccer's governing body in England.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Some of the most passionate, high-performing people work more than 60 hours a week.
    Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Booth is an avid donor to both KU and the University of Chicago and previously donated $50 million to KU football in 2017.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Brown was an avid fitness enthusiast and amateur body builder who regularly worked out at Anytime Fitness in Forest Lake, Glader said.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 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
  • However, after reading these fervent testimonials from our readers, my views have been swayed.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Mauer has a fervent pride in his home city and, specifically, his baseball neighborhood, with Toni Stone Field and the Dunning Sports Complex serving as the hubs.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Jeremiah is not enthusiastic about his summer internship with his dad’s company, and the last thing his dad wants to talk about is the wedding.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Diamandis was enthusiastic about the injection, but hardly impartial; the treatment was about to be trialled on two hundred Fountain Life patients, including him.
    Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The pans have spacious surface areas for better searing and browning, and the cooking surface isn’t particularly sticky either.
    Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2025
  • About a dozen have visited or have plans to make stops in the early primary states, such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, 60, who in April caught attention for delivering a searing speech in New Hampshire aimed at 'do-nothing' Democrats.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • While brands are mostly irrelevant at Low Timers, there are a few heritage names in workwear that get collectors excited.
    Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • During the quarter-mile hike, one of the young participants was excited to find a salamander underneath a log.
    Deena Butterfield, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • During a hot Thursday in Houston, Legette got the big-play party started against the Texans.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Menu highlights include Bavarian pretzels, hot wings, pizza, burgers and lavish charcuterie boards.
    Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ardent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ardent. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ardent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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