Synonyms of ardent

ardent

adjective

ˈär-dᵊnt 

1

as in passionate

having or expressing great depth of feeling

made ardent declarations of love to the woman he someday hoped to marry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• passionate
• fervent
• passional
• warm
• intense
• enthusiastic
• emotional
• religious
• demonstrative
• charged
• impassioned
• fervid
• glowing
• fiery
• vehement
• perfervid
• burning
• incandescent
• feverish
• flaming
• blazing
• torrid
• superheated
• red-hot
• hot-blooded
• warm-blooded
• zealous
• sentimental
• on fire
• sloppy
• mawkish
• gushy
• saccharine
• sugary
• histrionic
• obsessed
• sappy
• melodramatic
• mushy
• infatuated
• keen
• enamored
• uninhibited
• unreserved
• schmaltzy
• gung ho
• maudlin
• gushing
• frenzied
• orgiastic
• unrestrained
• overexcited
• overheated
• overemotional

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dispassionate
• cold
• cool
• impassive
• dry
• objective
• detached
• impersonal
• unemotional
• emotionless
• reserved
• undemonstrative

2

as in avid

showing urgent desire or interest

an ardent science-fiction fan who has read virtually all of his favorite author's many works

Synonyms & Similar Words

• avid
• enthusiastic
• excited
• eager
• anxious
• keen
• hungry
• impatient
• desirous
• voracious
• pumped
• solicitous
• enthused
• thirsty
• greedy
• interested
• nuts
• happy
• agog
• gung ho
• antsy
• great
• stoked
• juiced
• ready
• wild
• crazy
• willing
• athirst
• geeked
• hopped-up
• engaged
• champing at the bit
• hot
• raring
• bonkers
• gaga
• chomping at the bit
• obsessed
• longing
• hepped up
• ambitious
• restless
• covetous
• pining
• breathless
• glad
• restive
• craving
• amenable
• inclined
• hankering
• disposed
• game
• appetent
• hung up
• unreluctant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• apathetic
• unenthusiastic
• casual
• disinterested
• uninterested
• unconcerned
• nonchalant
• aloof
• insouciant
• detached
• incurious
• stolid
• reluctant
• impassive
• uneager
• unwilling
• lukewarm
• halfhearted
• languid
• hesitant
• averse
• languorous
• lackadaisical
• spiritless
• loath
• disinclined

3

as in boiling

having a notably high temperature

under an ardent sun the band of bedouins made their way across the sandy wastes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boiling
• searing
• fervent
• hot
• burning
• fervid
• molten
• red
• heated
• fiery
• white-hot
• warmed
• warm
• torrid
• scorching
• sultry
• sweltering
• red-hot
• broiling
• superheated
• roasting
• piping hot
• scalding
• blazing
• glowing
• seething
• ultrahot
• igneous
• sizzling
• overheated
• feverish
• tropical
• flushed
• inflamed
• toasty
• steamy
• reheated
• warmish
• snug
• muggy
• summery
• summerlike
• canicular

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bitter
• cold
• icy
• glacial
• frigid
• arctic
• frozen
• ice-cold
• iced
• freezing
• cool
• chilly
• snappy
• chill
• algid
• nippy
• frosty
• snowy
• wintry
• cooled
• bone-chilling
• chilled
• subzero
• unheated
• coolish
• shivering
• coldish
• benumbed
• refrigerated
• subfreezing
• numb
• blizzardly

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

Recent Examples of ardent

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, both ardent Trump allies, have been vocal in criticizing Powell over the project. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 Jan. 2026

The ardent fan can’t expect this running game to produce 164 yards in its current state; the reasonable fan of any NFL team can’t expect to go 10-for-18 on third- and fourth-downs, either. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026

González was the Presidential candidate, but the real power is Machado, a conservative Catholic from a wealthy family who built a following as an ardent critic of the Maduro regime. —Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also faced pushback, even from ardent Biden supporters. —Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing ardent

• ardent spirits