Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fervor differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fervor are ardor, enthusiasm, passion, and zeal. While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

read the poem aloud with great fervor

When could ardor be used to replace fervor?

In some situations, the words ardor and fervor are roughly equivalent. However, ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

When might enthusiasm be a better fit than fervor?

The words enthusiasm and fervor can be used in similar contexts, but enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

never showed much enthusiasm for sports

When is it sensible to use passion instead of fervor?

The meanings of passion and fervor largely overlap; however, passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

was a slave to his passions

When would zeal be a good substitute for fervor?

While in some cases nearly identical to fervor, 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 fervor Partition’s Shadows Nationalist fervor and mutual suspicion, 75 years later. Atul Loke, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025 President Donald Trump has unleashed a torrent of protectionist fervor, stoking fears far beyond U.S. borders. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 But cynicism toward those reforms have driven a conservative fervor for independence from Catholic authority. Liam Adams, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 Special events, however, are by invitation (and may impact restaurant hours) and are quite the coveted ticket, even when its not leading the fervor of the auto show just down the street. Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fervor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fervor
Noun
  • His kitchen skills, puckish humor and enthusiasm helped earn him regular invitations to appear on TV cooking shows, including every Food Network series and a couple shows for TLC.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2025
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,104 points, or 2.6%, staying near its highs for most of the session with buying enthusiasm remaining strong.
    Brian Evans,Yun Li,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • There has to be urgency, there has to be force, there has to be intensity, there has to [be] concentration.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025
  • The narrative, though minimal, resonates through its intensity and restraint.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Though Justin and Keisha, and Katherine and Michael (Blume’s characters), are dealing with the same party-pack of teenage emotions — uncertainty, humiliation, brilliance, headassness — their experiences aren’t the same.
    Jazmine Hughes, Vulture, 2 May 2025
  • Detroit and New York traded blows throughout the fourth, with the crowd at Little Caesars Arena going through a rollercoaster of emotions.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • For blue eyes, warm browns are always a win; on brown eyes, copper or bronze tones bring warmth and depth.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 May 2025
  • People often describe the feeling as that of ‘waves of warmth’, or tingling and light moving through them.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Mariah, an energetic publicity executive in Oregon also described herself as an introverted extrovert, had a passion for self-exploration and chose work different from everyone else in her family.
    Jessie Rosen, People.com, 3 May 2025
  • He’s evolved his passion as a collector into a career, previously providing sports card content and market analysis for companies like Sports Card Investor and Goldin Auctions.
    Tyler Holzhammer, New York Times, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fervor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fervor. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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