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
  • The president of the new campus is Tamekia Morris, a passionate advocate for getting more women into skilled trades.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Those who visit annually or several times during the year are deeply passionate about the live shows, character meet-and-greets, holiday food specials, seasonal festivals and parades and nighttime spectaculars that these parks provide.
    Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Her relationship with her boyfriend Ben (who happens to be an avid outdoorsman) has led her to believe certain things about herself, and has shaped her inner voice.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That gift was personal, not a Ballmer Group grant, as Connie is an avid NPR listener.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 11 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
  • The Red Sox did finally break the curse that year, but the rivalry remains as fervent as ever.
    Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike e-commerce giants Amazon or Craigslist, Whatnot deliberately targeted a small but fervent base of collectors.
    Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The response within Meta was anything but enthusiastic, however.
    Joshua Hong, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ron pulls off the speech and gets an enthusiastic round of applause.
    Barry Levitt, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The searing heat wave across Europe has driven the union to call for museums to close when temperatures reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit and to institute heat mitigation measures for back-of-house staff.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The return journey sends whatever object (or whoever's on board) through our atmosphere at searing speeds and even more searing temperatures.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 11 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
  • But the person most excited to play catch with his father, Ron, was Twins manager Derek Shelton, who wasn’t sure his arm would be capable after throwing Buxton batting practice Monday.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Even still, the filmmaker is excited to let Edinburgh audiences begin probing this surprisingly affecting piece on loss and extraterrestrial life.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ardent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ardent. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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