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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun enthusiasm differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enthusiasm are ardor, fervor, passion, and zeal. While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

never showed much enthusiasm for sports

When would ardor be a good substitute for enthusiasm?

While in some cases nearly identical to enthusiasm, ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

When might fervor be a better fit than enthusiasm?

The synonyms fervor and enthusiasm are sometimes interchangeable, but fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

read the poem aloud with great fervor

When could passion be used to replace enthusiasm?

While the synonyms passion and enthusiasm are close in meaning, passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

was a slave to his passions

Where would zeal be a reasonable alternative to enthusiasm?

The words zeal and enthusiasm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

preaches with fanatical zeal

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 enthusiasm The country wasn’t being run, and laws weren’t being made, by people who endorse the idea of submissive women with great enthusiasm. Megan Angelo, Glamour, 20 Oct. 2025 What was he supposed to do, praise the enthusiasm of the huge crowds protesting against him? Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025 This enthusiasm seems to stem partly from admiration for the can-do ingenuity of Costco’s business model. Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025 Stocks remain near record highs thanks, in large part, to enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. Michelle Fox, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enthusiasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enthusiasm
Noun
  • These latests features are designed for enterprises who want to integrate their AI technology with either existing Salesforce data or even their own data.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The latests deaths included three residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas, as well as a Balch Springs man in his 20s and a Dallas man in his 60s.
    Dana Branham, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2020
Noun
  • Sterling Glass had many health problems as a child—swollen feet, night sweats, nausea and vomiting, unquenchable thirst, and fatigue that often left him too exhausted to go to school.
    Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Trump’s insatiable thirst for revenge.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The property features Techno Gym equipment (the gym girlies that get it, get it), as well as high-intensity fitness classes and sauna/steam room.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The research team also revealed that the system is optimized for 625 parametric building designs covering different energy use intensities (EUI) and geometric configurations, defined by façade area-to-volume, length-to-width, and height-to-footprint ratios.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Not wanting to miss out on the sport truck craze currently happening with the Detroit 3, Toyota has debuted the TRD Rally model of the Tundra.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The Labubu craze doesn’t seem to be dying down any time soon, as new, mainstream, and rare editions are all in high demand, and fans often look for clothing and event advent calendars to accompany their cute yet scary figurines.
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Mamdani’s brand of economic populism and laser focus on lowering costs in the astronomically expensive city has generated buzz and excitement.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The director wrenches apart Ibsen’s terse and precise mechanism and makes room for a proliferation of arresting moments—caught on the wing in wide-screen images, thanks to Sean Bobbitt’s cinematography—that balance tragedy and horror with excitement and wonder.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Thus, current fears reinforce a pre-existing localism, and infuse it with new and intense emotions.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Yet neuroscience shows us that perception is biased, emotions hijack reasoning, and threat‑detection systems, like the amygdala, can overreact.
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This trend has followed a similar pattern across Europe, with Spain and Germany also seeing a boost in this system’s use after a quieter period.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Fortunately, the timing fits well with the overall industry trend of electrifying the oilfield and transitioning away from dirtier diesel power.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Athleticism, friendliness, courage, a good appetite—these things are all important, yes.
    Abigail Wise, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Garance Marillier stars as a strict vegetarian and vet-school student forced to eat a rabbit kidney, which unlocks a whole new appetite not kosher in most circles.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enthusiasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enthusiasm. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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