Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

ardor

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of ardor

1 depth of feeling
  • candidates for citizenship reciting the oath of allegiance to the United States with all the ardor that they could muster
Synonyms of ardor

ardency, emotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fire, heat, intenseness, intensity, passion, passionateness, vehemence, violence, warmth, white heat
Words Related to ardor

emotionalism, emotionality, histrionics, mawkishness, melodrama, sappiness, sentimentality

eagerness, earnestness, excitement, gusto, keenness, zest

fanaticism, fever, hot-bloodedness, infatuation, mania, obsession, zeal

compassion, responsiveness, sentiment, sympathy, tenderness

torridity, torridness
Near Antonyms of ardor

aloofness, calmness, collectedness, composure, detachedness, reserve, reservedness, reticence, taciturnity

apathy, indifference, stoicism, stoniness, unconcern

stiffness, woodenness

chilliness, coldness, coolness, frigidity, frigidness
Antonyms of ardor

impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, insensibleness, insensitiveness, insensitivity
2 urgent desire or interest
  • His ardor for leaving home cooled as he began to realize how much he'd miss his family.
Synonyms of ardor

appetite, avidity, avidness, desirousness, eagerness, enthusiasm, excitement, hunger, impatience, keenness, lust, thirst
Words Related to ardor

alacrity, quickness

ambition, gusto, zest

appetence, appetency, fervency, passion, warmth, zeal

amenability, readiness, willingness
Near Antonyms of ardor

casualness, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

aloofness, detachment

impassivity, languidness, languor

halfheartedness, lukewarmness
Antonyms of ardor

apathy, indifference
3 intense sexual desire
  • a musical passage composed to convey the tragic lovers' ardor
Synonyms of ardor

eroticism, lust, lustfulness, passion
Words Related to ardor

lasciviousness, lewdness, libidinousness, licentiousness, salaciousness, wantonness
Near Antonyms of ardor

frigidity

Synonym Discussion of ardor

passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action. passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.
    • was a slave to his passions
fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.
    • read the poem aloud with great fervor
ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.
    • the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded
enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.
    • never showed much enthusiasm for sports
zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.
    • preaches with fanatical zeal

Learn More about ardor

  1. See words that rhyme with ardor Dictionary: Definition of ardor Spanish Central: Translation of ardor Nglish: Translation of ardor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ardor for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ardor? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games