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
  • Set in Los Angeles, the film follows AJ, a shy teenager who loves skateboarding and drawing, and Kristen, a passionate surfer.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 19 May 2026
  • Much of the film is set in and around a Parisian elder-care facility, and Hamaguchi guides us through its rooms and hallways, its meetings and rituals, with a patience and passionate granularity worthy of the late documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 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
  • Passionate flamenco, a fervent soccer culture, and a 24,000-seat bullring are woven into Madrid’s rich cultural tapestry.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 May 2026
  • The race to build data centers and deploy more complex AI systems that can complete tasks with limited oversight, known as agentic AI, has ignited fervent demand for central processing units, or CPUs.
    Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Adjective
  • State and federal taxes, seasonal demand and even more expensive fuel blends needed for warmer weather are all pieces of the pie.
    Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
  • When the weather gets warm, nothing satisfies quite like cold noodles in iced broth.
    Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • What sets this masa harina apart is its distinct, intense corn flavor.
    Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 May 2026
  • Being confined to a wooden chair, wearing that impressive multilayered costume, in the intense heat of Gran Canaria.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • Stronger communities are built when mental-health services move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and recognize the emotional, social, cultural and practical realities people face every day.
    Maria Bledsoe, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
  • Mercury enters Gemini in your 4th House of Home, bringing attention to family logistics, living space, and the emotional weather behind closed doors.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • San Diego County has been among the state’s most ardent MCRT supporters.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
  • But everyone — from the most ardent fan all the way up to the owner who signs the checks — had to endure it.
    Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • The crowd was enthusiastic and somewhat glassy-eyed, and people lined up patiently to buy records and merchandise, and to get a chance to meet Rashad.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
  • Firebird Tours has also been an enthusiastic adopter of new technology and created a custom trip builder and travel app.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Perfervid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfervid. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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