INTENSELY Synonyms: 200 Similar and Opposite Words

intensely

adverb

as in hard

with great effort or determination struggled intensely to master the language of her adopted country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in extremely

to a great degree the senate race was intensely close

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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 intensely Lucy’s always been a hard vocalist to classify, intensely emotive but largely separate from the monster-growl arms race. — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026 The green is equally luscious in texture, made with chicken thigh and skin, but intensely herbaceous, brightened with parsley, cilantro, poblano and jalapeño. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Disney has been more intensely focused on its financials since Josh D’Amaro took over as CEO from Bob Iger in March. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 By then, the friends were becoming Hollywood powers, producing a series of films both intensely personal and enormously profitable. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 Both political camps inspire intensely loyal supporters — and fierce opposition. — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026 The obvious effort that Pascal spent practicing the cello pays off in the scenes where Alex intensely plays the instrument for his own private reasons, as if asking the same thing of himself. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026 With his head shaved and his chest usually bared, Yousuke Yukimatsu melds body and machine to choreograph intensely physical sonic marathons. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026 Quaise plans to direct that energy underground to heat rock intensely enough to remove it, replacing the mechanical cutting action of conventional drill bits. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intensely

Adverb

And as direct as the ad is (more on it in a moment), the film goes even harder.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Beshear has also campaigned and advertised hard for Democratic candidate Zach Dembo, who is taking on GOP candidate Ralph Alvarado in the open 6th District seat around Lexington.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Adverb

Eco effort D’Inghilterra’s sustainability efforts stand out at Café Romano where the ingredients are local and extremely fresh—the chef likely selected the veggies in your salad from the market that morning.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Arrests near schools or colleges have increased, though enforcement actions on campuses are extremely uncommon.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of extremely

Adverb

Newsom, by contrast, may need to begin campaigning intensively after leaving office rather than wait for Harris’s decision.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
The pork producers group has also intensively lobbied for legislation called the Save Our Bacon Act, which would overturn the state laws.

— Kenny Torrella, Vox, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of intensively

Adverb

The rooms are incredibly cozy, with gas fireplaces, a pull-out couch, and framed images of different landmarks around the Presidio.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
His incredibly sharp eye for talent coupled with strong instincts and deep relationships are a dynamic combination for artist management.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of incredibly

Adverb

Acuña was tended to for several minutes by the Braves trainer, with Weiss looking on intently, before heading straight to the home clubhouse.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026
As the Israeli media focussed intently on the incursion, Einhorn grew restless about the progress of the pro-Qatar campaign.

— Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of intently

Adverb

The hotel is very grown up, and therefore not exactly relaxing with very young kids (or, at least, not with my kid)—although children are not discouraged.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Thirteen are rated at very high risk or in default, and 23 have no rating from the big agencies, which cuts them from international bond markets.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of very

Adverb

Organizations like the American Library Association have diligently kept track of banning efforts.

— Naveen Basavaraj, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026
On that day, Skoloda, Pasek, and others had diligently practiced constructing the Norwegian reeve, along with other rigging arrangements.

— Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of diligently

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“Intensely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intensely. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of intensely

adverb

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