Definition of ferventnext
1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fervent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fervent are ardent, fervid, impassioned, passionate, and perfervid. While all these words mean "showing intense feeling," fervent stresses sincerity and steadiness of emotional warmth or zeal.

fervent good wishes

When might ardent be a better fit than fervent?

While in some cases nearly identical to fervent, ardent implies an intense degree of zeal, devotion, or enthusiasm.

an ardent supporter of human rights

Where would fervid be a reasonable alternative to fervent?

While the synonyms fervid and fervent are close in meaning, fervid suggests warmly and spontaneously and often feverishly expressed emotion.

fervid love letters

When is impassioned a more appropriate choice than fervent?

The meanings of impassioned and fervent largely overlap; however, impassioned implies warmth and intensity without violence and suggests fluent verbal expression.

an impassioned plea for justice

When could passionate be used to replace fervent?

The words passionate and fervent can be used in similar contexts, but passionate implies great vehemence and often violence and wasteful diffusion of emotion.

a passionate denunciation

When would perfervid be a good substitute for fervent?

Although the words perfervid and fervent have much in common, 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 fervent Goldberg, a fervent fan of the Boys in Blue, is the founder of the Echo Park Spiritual Outreach community, Nefesh. Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 25 June 2026 Rivaling artificial intelligence super PACs are seeking to affect the candidacy of Alex Bores, a New York state Assemblyman, who has been a fervent supporter of AI regulations. Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 23 June 2026 Nick Perisse, wearing a suit and a red tie, was a fervent young Catholic whose family had arrived from Brazil in 2017. Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Her fans are among the most fervent and devoted consumers on the planet. Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fervent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fervent
Adjective
  • Yet what elevates The Daily Show, and produced so many offspring, is that its point of view is obvious and passionate—without shading into outright campaigning.
    Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • Playing in front of a passionate home Mexican crowd, Jimenez had an excellent tournament, leading the line for Javier Aguirre’s side.
    Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 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
  • Extreme rainfall events like this are becoming more common as planet-warming pollution drives temperatures higher, because warmer air holds more moisture – which storms can then wring out like a water-laden sponge in heavy, localized downpours.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Unlike its more exclusive neighbor properties, Daunt’s feels like a warm embrace and a breath of fresh air at the same time.
    Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Adjective
  • Severe droughts and searing heat across vast swathes of southern Europe destroyed large parts of the olive oil harvest, culminating in a dizzying price rally that shocked industry veterans and consumers alike.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Set in the immigrant neighborhoods of 1950s Brooklyn, Miller’s searing tragedy explores the tensions between devotion and desire, justice and loyalty, and the promise and pressures of the American Dream.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 14 July 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
  • Arguably, no program was as hot in June at picking up portal commitments, with Miami currently standing at 12 commits.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • The second the on-stage conversation concluded, a wave of ardent fans rushed to greet them in person.
    Kambole Campbell, Variety, 7 July 2026
  • Warren and Sanders have been two of Platner's most ardent and high-profile supporters in Congress.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fervent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fervent. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fervent

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster