passion

Definition of passionnext
1
2
3
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

4
5
6
as in feeling
passions plural general emotional condition people who are swayed by their passions and not by reason

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
8

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 Growing up in Sugar Grove, Matty developed her passion and instinct for the game at an early age. Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2026 Born in Bogotá and raised for much of his childhood in Bel Air in Harford County, Sebastian developed a passion for sports at a young age and hopes to dedicate his career to the industry. Molly Fellin Spence, Baltimore Sun, 29 May 2026 The campaign was the work of Claude Hopkins, an advertising executive with a passion for rigorous testing and measurable results. Julia Dhar, Fortune, 29 May 2026 The devoted smoker has super-human patience and time management skills, a healthy competitive spirit for large gatherings, and a true passion for authentic barbecue. Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for passion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passion
Noun
  • Bloom’s shares have risen by more than 200% since the start of the year on the back of investor enthusiasm over demand for its technology to power data centers.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
  • No technical area is big enough to contain his enthusiasm, let alone the minimalist version at Bournemouth, which is the smallest in the Premier League.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The only thing Marie wants is her mother’s love, but is that even possible?
    The Know, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on.
    Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • The boys and girls wind up living across the hall from each other, and crushes and interpersonal drama bring them from frenemies to enemies and back again.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 June 2026
  • The friend group quickly forms a complex web of crushes that expand the love triangle to new frontiers of geometry.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Being bitten by Pirate Clark may have been a manifestation of Clark's deepest emotional wounds and desires — or maybe the monster just needed a meal.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
  • Each state may implement Clean Slate laws differently, depending on the balance between public safety and the desire for second chances.
    Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • There is also an important distinction between jealousy and envy, two emotions often used interchangeably but fundamentally different.
    Meehika Barua, Time, 29 May 2026
  • Over time, Strider has trained himself to separate the event from the emotion attached to it.
    Elise Devlin, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • People there described feelings of anguish and uncertainty in recent interviews.
    Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • Do not allow someone else to manipulate your feelings.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • While the Browns’ lust for draft picks warrants skepticism, because the franchise’s brazen tanking several years ago bore mostly bitter fruit, the inclusion of Verse hedges the bet considerably.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
  • Through the story, New York magazine intended to capture the intersection of danger and lust in gay-male culture in the aftermath of Versace’s death.
    Adam Turner, Vanity Fair, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Oura Ring, Ultrahuman and Clue have partnered to link cycle data with real-time biomarkers, and workout-modification engines adapting intensity to cycle phase are already in development per FemTech World’s 2026 outlook.
    Allison Palmer June 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
  • Climate change, from the burning of coal, oil and gas, increased the intensity of Canada's 2023 fire season by at least 50% and doubled the chances of the drier, hotter weather conditions that were needed for the fire, a 2023 study found.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passion. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on passion

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster