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 That urban project, oddly enough, worked in tandem with an increasingly growing passion for agriculture and conservation. Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025 Since their inception, the Wood Brothers have created a unique artistic world that combines Oliver’s deep love of rock, blues, and folk with Chris’ passion for jazz, classical, and improvisation, all aligning with the steadfast anchor of Rix’s percussive talents and sonic curiosity. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025 Serrat’s approach to beauty is youthful — and inspired by her own childhood passion for art and color. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025 There is a passion for the Jaguar brand here that's probably as strong as anywhere else in the globe. Morgan Korn, ABC News, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for passion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passion
Noun
  • Hawks might whip up enthusiasm by waving a bloody shirt or recalling a stab in the back.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • And one thing about Andrew that is important to remember is that his enthusiasm is a certain kind of spiritually connected chaos that anyone could do with at any age, at any point in their life.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This, plus the ongoing calls among family members, maintains a powerful sense of human connection and love.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Quinto has been open about his love for the role of Spock.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Black is now aware of her crush after her boyfriend, Rolling Stone CEO Gus Wenner, told him.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Her post was in reference to Schnapp’s character Will Byers having a crush on his best friend, Wolfhard’s Mike Wheeler.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Appetite refers to the desire to eat.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Oct. 2025
  • This decision comes from a place of necessity, not desire.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Lakers got all the emotions from their star Friday night in a 49-point performance to lead a 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
    Dan Woike, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In these conditions, the gut’s nerves and the brain’s emotion-processing circuits are in unusually close communication.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There is an organic, honest feeling to Paulsen’s training.
    Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The loss was an unfamiliar feeling for the Dodgers, who had only dropped one game this entire postseason entering Friday.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Louise Hémon The jury would also like to acknowledge a director whose film transported us into an extreme landscape, and created an unsettling atmosphere that kept us contemplating the nature of lust, education, and violence.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The story's become one of most iconic tales of the 20th century, one filled to the brim with glorious weirdness, corruption, blood, lust and plenty of song and dance.
    Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That’s why Mazzulla upped the intensity at training camp.
    Jay King, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • There’s that kind of intensity and fuel that has fanned the fire of Mirador in someways that’s really elevated the band and the performances.
    Gary Graff, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Passion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passion. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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