passion

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as in crush
a strong but often short-lived liking for another person her passion passed when she got to know him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in feeling
passions plural general emotional condition people who are swayed by their passions and not by reason

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word passion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of passion are affection, emotion, feeling, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When is it sensible to use affection instead of passion?

The synonyms affection and passion are sometimes interchangeable, but affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

How are the words emotion and feeling related as synonyms of passion?

Emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses.

the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence

When would feeling be a good substitute for passion?

The meanings of feeling and passion largely overlap; however, feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it.

the feelings that once moved me are gone

When can sentiment be used instead of passion?

The words sentiment and passion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

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 passion Food was another passion of his, according to his grandmother. Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025 Did the show fuel your passion to do more musical theater or to be on Broadway? Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 July 2025 Monte sat down with The Kansas City Star’s culture and identity reporter, J.M. Banks, to talk about finding his passion for theater, his time in New York working on Broadway and making his directorial debut producing his first stage production. Kansas City Star, 12 July 2025 His passion for all-things superhero has a giddy innocence to it even when his films are sarcastic or jokey. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for passion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passion
Noun
  • Your loyalty, enthusiasm and belief in our products have meant the world to us.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 11 July 2025
  • Crucially for Spurs, that enthusiasm in possession doesn’t wane without it.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • His hunger for movies and TV series is only matched by his love for video games.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 12 July 2025
  • Once again, a smiling Rodón showed his love for Judge, waiting for the right fielder near the Yankees dugout after recording his last out of the evening.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • The source also said that the two have a very cordial relationship, but have tiny crushes on each other.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 July 2025
  • As captured in videos on social media, chaos broke out when a line of people using an escalator at the station started to rush down the steps after hearing screaming, resulting in a dangerous crowd crush.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • At its core, this lifestyle aesthetic reflects a generation’s desire to return to a slower, simpler way of life.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
  • Wheeler will not participate in the game, citing his desire to stay on routine to help the Phillies win in the second half.
    Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • The prefrontal cortex – the area of the brain that regulates emotions, behavior and memory processing – is the last region to connect to others, one which may not fully integrate until the third decade of life.
    The Marshall Project, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
  • The moment was filled with conflicting emotions, a mix of gratitude and solemn reflection.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • And that feeling of intentional participation is the real fuel behind meaning, motivation and emotional nourishment.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Craft Omakase Intimacy, craftsmanship and the feeling that you've been let onto a small secret create a sense of mystery and intrigue at this sushi restaurant helmed by several Uchiko veterans.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Spanning every emotion between anger and lust, this collection makes for a fiery must-read.
    Wanjeri Gakuru July 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
  • The character is caught between a manic id fueled equally by a painful breakup and the lust of new love, and the debilitating superego induced by the same life events.
    Anna Peele, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Cooler temperatures raise level of play The temperature dropped, and the intensity rose.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Expressing Emotions Supports Emotional Regulation While many try to instinctively suppress uncomfortable emotions, research shows that simply putting your feelings into words can powerfully help regulate emotional intensity.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Passion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passion. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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