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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 Early this year, the company began showing WWE’s RAW weekly program, with its ardent fan base, and continues to do more live shows such as Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, a revisionist weekly talk show. David Bloom, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 Trump’s most hawkish trade advisor on China and his most ardent tariff advocate, Peter Navarro, will not attend the talks. Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 May 2025 Like me, those ardent followers probably struggled to convey what the visceral experience of a Foreman production felt like. Andrew Lampert, Artforum, 1 May 2025 During Desargues’s lifetime, only fellow French mathematician Blaise Pascal became an ardent disciple of his work. Richard Jensen, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ardent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ardent
Adjective
  • Gabriella is a cousin of King Charles through her father Prince Michael's side of the family and a passionate musician who played an advisory role around the musical performances for Kate's Together at Christmas carol service in December at Westminster Abbey.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 19 May 2025
  • It’s been possible, but hard to find Fettercairn from independent bottlers in the United States, and those who seek it out are passionate about it, Boice said.
    Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • The smoke travels up almost 100 feet of steel and copper tubes to the chimney and the world beyond. 21h ago / 1:45 AM PDT Share Panini, water and a telescopic folding stool: how to survive the conclave Alexander Smith Reporting from Vatican City For the avid smokewatcher, preparation is key.
    Katie Primm, NBC news, 9 May 2025
  • Residents who live near a fishing location, spend a lot of time near the water or are avid boaters are encouraged to get involved.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 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
  • Fetterman voted for several of President Donald Trump’s nominees, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, and has been a fervent supporter of Israel in its war in Gaza against the terrorist group Hamas.
    Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025
  • But, whatever the White House and its most fervent allies insisted at the time, the Signal chat was a major embarrassment.
    The Editors, National Review, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • In 2019, Joker received an enthusiastic eight-minute reception in Venice.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 May 2025
  • The show gets really enthusiastic and vocal reactions from the crowds — mid-act standing ovations and cheers.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Set in 2019 Los Angeles, Akil’s update paints a searing portrait of the issues faced by teenagers today, exploring the social media age and how, via the race-swapping of the leads, Black kids come of age in white America.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 8 May 2025
  • As one more analogous reference, the need to manage hows reminds me of great literature, in particular, Viktor Frankl’s searing memoir Man’s Search For Meaning.
    Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • While fans are excited for their own team's schedule, every NFL game, especially prime-time ones, is a must-see.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
  • The nerves turned into excited butterflies as my wave kicked off.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Below, check out today's last-chance gift ideas, snag tickets for this weekend's hottest sporting events and more, all hand-picked by the USA TODAY Shopping team.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 11 May 2025
  • Webb walked Vázquez to lead off the inning, then hung a sweeper to Larnach in his hot zone that the Bay Area product sent over the right-field wall.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ardent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ardent. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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