Definition of perfervidnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word perfervid different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of perfervid are ardent, fervent, fervid, impassioned, and passionate. While all these words mean "showing intense feeling," perfervid implies the expression of exaggerated or overwrought feelings.

perfervid expressions of patriotism

When might ardent be a better fit than perfervid?

The words ardent and perfervid can be used in similar contexts, but ardent implies an intense degree of zeal, devotion, or enthusiasm.

an ardent supporter of human rights

In what contexts can fervent take the place of perfervid?

While in some cases nearly identical to perfervid, fervent stresses sincerity and steadiness of emotional warmth or zeal.

fervent good wishes

When can fervid be used instead of perfervid?

The words fervid and perfervid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fervid suggests warmly and spontaneously and often feverishly expressed emotion.

fervid love letters

When would impassioned be a good substitute for perfervid?

The synonyms impassioned and perfervid are sometimes interchangeable, but impassioned implies warmth and intensity without violence and suggests fluent verbal expression.

an impassioned plea for justice

When is it sensible to use passionate instead of perfervid?

While the synonyms passionate and perfervid are close in meaning, passionate implies great vehemence and often violence and wasteful diffusion of emotion.

a passionate denunciation

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 perfervid The scant paintings on view reverse an emphasis on figurative imagery in the 2019 Biennial, tilting toward a lately prevalent revival of abstraction in perfervid styles that have yet to demonstrate staying power. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 This latest controversy won’t dent Thomas’s formidable reputation as a jurist, but it’s another mark against his perfervid critics who have no decency. Rich Lowry, National Review, 1 Apr. 2022 So why, with all this perfervid material at her disposal, did the director, Haifaa Al-Mansour, and her co-screenwriter, Emma Jensen, opt for such cautiousness? Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 May 2018 Down south near San Diego, gray-faced children toil in a slave-labor camp that Dickens could not have imagined in his most perfervid dreams. Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfervid
Adjective
  • Trotsky himself had seen that the pragmatist follower who lacks true belief usually ends up on the other side; a passionate believer who lacks pragmatic planning skills usually ends up dead.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • In his speech during the trophy ceremony, McIlroy dedicated a passionate thank you to his family sitting in the front row.
    Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
Adjective
  • This propulsive documentary follows Climate Defiance and founder Michael Greenberg’s unabashedly disruptive protests, expressing their fervent and urgent demands for climate action in the spaces — and faces — of industry executives and politicians exacerbating the crisis.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The reality is that Medicare and Social Security enjoy fervent public support.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • During the chaos, community members like local restaurant owner Ron Grady stepped up to offer warm shelter and food to those who were stranded in the cold due to the massive multi-vehicle crash.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Thursday will be warm, dry and breezy in the Twin Cities, while other parts of Minnesota will face extreme fire risk.
    Joseph Dames, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • No injuries were reported in the blaze and no structures were threatened, despite an extensive list of evacuation orders and warnings that were issued at the fire's most intense point.
    Zach Boetto, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Combining creatine with electrolytes may improve hydration and exercise performance, especially during intense or prolonged workouts.
    Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Is there an emotional component for you at this moment?
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • From the opening scene of the family’s move to town, the soft and wistful light shapes the film’s emotional world.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The most ardent supporters of the KMT, a political party opposed to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, are often members of older generations who continue to identify culturally as Chinese.
    Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Even the most ardent proponents of AI are concerned.
    Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • That’s puzzling because DeSantis has been an enthusiastic supporter of tax relief.
    ORLANDO SENTINEL AND MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARDS, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Defenseman Jacob Moverare was highlighted with the Daryl Evans Youth Hockey Service Award for his diligent and enthusiastic work with the Kings’ learn-to-play program.
    Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Perfervid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfervid. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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