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 As even the most ardent fans of the stage production might tell you, the second act is not nearly as magical as the first. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 The first documentary, in fact, earned a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, driven largely by her most ardent followers. Blanche Marcel, Vanity Fair, 6 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for ardent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ardent
Adjective
  • Charland said the community has become passionate about the museum.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • There were also passionate tributes this evening to outgoing Festival director José Luis Rebordinos, who steps down after this year’s edition, his 17th at the helm.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The decade marked a golden age for music in the Southeast Asian nation, which even counted its king among its avid pop singers.
    H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 15 Sep. 2026
  • My dad’s 60th birthday was coming up, and as an avid whisky drinker with a particularly sharp nose, his dream trip has always been to explore the coastline of Islay, a Scottish island famed worldwide for its smoky, peated single malt whiskies.
    Hayley Domin, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Sep. 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
  • Greengrass surrounds Garfield with actors who deliver bigger performances, like Jarvis as the brutish but shrewd Tyler, and Bell as the fervent Ball.
    Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Egged on by fervent commentary from the announcer, fans cheered, jumped and waved Germany flags at the Berlin Arena to help the home team keep its momentum going.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • For many enthusiastic golfers, access to golf courses is a top priority when choosing where to live.
    Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Despite recent legal threats from Musk over the documentary’s content, Universal has always been enthusiastic about releasing the film internationally, the sources added.
    Pat Saperstein, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • In some ways, their combination of searing serves and counter-punching defense was revolutionary.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The searing season only exacerbated the Colorado River water crisis.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 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
  • A student who is excited about an experiment is still learning.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Based on a straw poll of curators, collectors, and rival dealers at a spree of events last week, this is the show everyone’s most excited to see in Chelsea this fall.
    Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 18 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ardent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ardent. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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