1
as in intensive
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the intense cold of the polar regions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
1
as in intensity
depth of feeling
she presents her religious convictions with an intenseness that makes some people uncomfortable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressiveness
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)
every challenge that he undertakes is tackled with an intenseness that would exhaust most people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intense
Christine Ochefu, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026
Austin has seen its fair share of wild weather during this time of year, ranging from subfreezing nights to near triple-digit temperatures, along with heavy downpours, large hail and intense lightning storms — even during SXSW.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Rather than avoid the intense midday heat, sunshine is part of everyday life in Los Angeles.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
Several intense supercell thunderstorms were responsible for at least four tornadoes that hit Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois, as well as Newton, Jasper and Starke counties in northwest Indiana, according to the National Weather Service’s Chicago office.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intense
Adjective
Sinners is defined by moody, intense Southern Gothic visuals that linger long after the credits roll.
—Christine Ochefu, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026
Austin has seen its fair share of wild weather during this time of year, ranging from subfreezing nights to near triple-digit temperatures, along with heavy downpours, large hail and intense lightning storms — even during SXSW.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Rather than avoid the intense midday heat, sunshine is part of everyday life in Los Angeles.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
Several intense supercell thunderstorms were responsible for at least four tornadoes that hit Livingston and Kankakee counties in Illinois, as well as Newton, Jasper and Starke counties in northwest Indiana, according to the National Weather Service’s Chicago office.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intense
Adjective
-
Experts say the unique geology of California’s fields, and the nature of its heavy crude, make new projects, and efforts to pump more oil out of existing ones, costlier and more energy-intensive than drilling in other parts of the country.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Still, the food supply chain is incredibly energy-intensive, with high sums of energy required at each stage of the process.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Companies like Acorn, which specializes in British TV, and Crunchyroll, devoted to anime, had built real businesses on niches with passionate fans.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Was there one among you all that was kind of most passionate about getting this record done?—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Scientists see the high-intensity burn scar as key to the future of the planet’s largest tree.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Mirae’s cocktails are the center of bar manager Orestes Cruz’s beverage program, with a nice range of flavor profiles and intensity levels.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Collins said the coaching staff looked at first-half film and thought the Wildcats’ hand activity and aggressiveness on defense were off.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The rest of the game passed by without any noticeable uptick in aggressiveness from the Leafs.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The steep fee, enacted in 2015 due to surging demand among American expatriates seeking to avoid new tax reporting requirements, faced fierce opposition.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
-
No single line embodies both the overflowing kindness and fierce competence of small-town Brainerd's chief of police, Marge Gunderson.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
A day later, both sides were outside during breaks enjoying an unseasonably warm mid-March day in Manhattan.—
Doug Feinberg,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Shawkat, with her warm, amused eyes and her mop of curls, is a perfect carrier for Mae’s air of abjection, flopping around her bed like a horny, gloomy Raggedy Ann.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If emotions surge, pause to write thoughts before speaking, then return with a softer tone so both sides feel heard and respected.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
This means that the contributor’s original facial expressions, emotions, eye movements, and body language remain faithful to the original interview.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Anyone who has defied the regime before has risked their life to do so, and – despite being at the mercy of the most ferocious military machine on the face of the planet – the regime might yet survive.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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American Nathan Martin, a 36-year-old high school cross-country coach from Jackson, Michigan, ran 2 hours, 11 minutes and 16 seconds (five minutes per mile) to claim victory with a ferocious kick that came down to his final stride.—
John Davis,
Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intense. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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