Definition of fervornext

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 The films also rolled into being at a time when antisemitism is on the rise and anti-Israel fervor over the Gaza war has put Jews on the defensive. Stephen Silver, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Even before the swearing-in ceremony, supporters flooded social media with the same partisan trademark fervor of veteran politicians, suggesting that while the faces may be new, political habits remain the same. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026 See, for instance, the song the women of the cast performed imitating the fervor for him. Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026 The Arizona college is just one of a few schools responding to the creator economy fervor that Gen Z has embraced. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fervor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fervor
Noun
  • Wang’s remarks underscore the gap between investor enthusiasm for humanoid robots and their current commercial capabilities.
    Anniek Bao,Jenni Reid,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Alice presents two ideas, one delivered without any enthusiasm, the other dropped as a joke.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Even with the intensity of Conor Gallagher leading the press in front of them, Chelsea were regularly carved open in defensive transition and conceded 63 goals in the Premier League in 2023-24.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ruby Hobbs-Leffler felt things with an intensity that even a smart little girl with a big vocabulary couldn’t put into words.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Set in the high-stakes world of academia, The Love Hypothesis explores the delicate dance between science and emotion, reason and risk—and what happens when love defies logic.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Todd, who produces the film, recalls the emotions of visiting the set for the first time, during a scene that struck a personal chord with her experience with her son.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Watching a haunting play out in the moment around a thousand strangers gives the thing an odd and interesting warmth.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Lulu & Georgia's velvet is particularly cozy, and the texture adds warmth without asking anything else of the room.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Leo Tolstoy’s masterful epic—or one of them, at least—is about one woman’s scandals, passions, and ultimate tragedy, all set amid the tumult of late-19th century Russia.
    Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Reading gains remain minimal even though effective teaching of foundational skills could turn results around quickly, that is my professional passion.
    Olivia Young, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fervor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fervor. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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