intense

adjective

in-ˈten(t)s How to pronounce intense (audio)
Definition of intensenext
1
as in intensive
extreme in degree, power, or effect the intense cold of the polar regions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passionate
having or expressing great depth of feeling an intense actor who favors edgy film roles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 intense The last sidebar called by the judge before lunch appeared intense, with Reddington seen waving his hands a few times. — Nbc News, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026 Climate change, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, is making heat waves more frequent and more intense than in the past. — Sadie Babits, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026 Nike had been using Bugs Bunny in a series of commercials starring Michael Jordan as a means of softening the basketball legend’s intense on-court image and marketing his Air Jordans to families. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026 Keep them well-hydrated to give them the best chance of survival once the intense summer heat kicks in. — The Spruce, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intense
  1. intensive
  2. passionate
  3. fierce
  4. warm
  5. ferocious
  6. passional
  7. deep
  8. fervent
Adjective
  • By the twentieth century, intensive farming practices had left the South dangerously vulnerable to erosion, producing depleted swaths of land where kudzu would later flourish.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The next day, Alex Pretti, an intensive-care nurse and a lifelong Catholic, was shot and killed by federal agents.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • My parents were largely self-educated after high school, and both were passionate readers.
    — Geoffrey O’Brien, The New York Review of Books, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Everton is the constant, but nonetheless passionate, underdog.
    — Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • Casemiro and Messi, fierce rivals when Casemiro was at Real Madrid and Messi at Barcelona, celebrated together, a rare sight for longtime La Liga fans.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Pearce was celebrating five years of Opry membership and would return later to channel many aspects of Dolly, from her humor and fierce independence to her Appalachian roots.
    — Chris Parton, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Thanks to warm, dry and windy conditions, the fire — named Smokehouse Creek fire — rapidly spread, becoming the largest fire in Texas history.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • At a little under two feet, the can’t-miss fixture spreads a warm light that creates a welcoming atmosphere for reading, relaxing, or sharing drinks without harsh overhead lighting or a spindly, corner-lurking, fluorescent presence.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • After surviving a ferocious first half to trail only 13-12, the All Blacks' resolve hardened by new coach Dave Rennie and age-old ability to produce something from nothing turned a tense contest into a rout by five tries to South Africa's one.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • One track consists of her ferocious, transfixing, concept works, which plunge the gathered into the heart and soul of extreme historical and cultural experiences.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
Definition of passional
Adjective
  • At the start of the year, Iceland Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir said that deeper dialogue and collaboration with the EU would be a key factor in shoring up the country's interests.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Thankfully, his reappearance in the show actually has a deeper purpose.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of deep
Adjective
  • Yet many Culers question why Atletico would want to keep a player who doesn’t want to be at the club against his will, and who has now clearly lost the support of the Spanish capital outfit’s fervent fans.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The entire gymnasium roared with claps and cheers, the loudest and most fervent applause of the evening.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of fervent

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intends
intense
intensely
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Cite this Entry

“Intense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intense. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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