élan

noun

Definition of élannext
as in zeal

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 élan But these artists skillfully infuse every note with passion and gritty elan. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Dec. 2025 Schwartzman, though, is comic gold as an inappropriate inlaw while Sessa brightens things up as a broken-hearted sop who insinuates himself with all the elan of a Lab puppy into the neighbor’s next door household. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025 Khrushchev sought to revive revolutionary elan and push the USSR to the final stage of history, the transition from socialism to communism, during which the state apparatus would finally wither away. — Benjamin Nathans september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025 The rule at these gatherings is to move with a semblance of elan. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for élan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for élan
  1. zeal
  2. fervor
  3. verve
  4. brio
  5. gusto
  6. vigor
  7. ardor
  8. vitality
Noun
  • In the first match of Premier League 2026-27, a beautifully sad coincidence brings Newcastle United and Liverpool together on the grass Keegan once scrutinised with Shanklyesque zeal.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Fueled by affection for Gramps, by nostalgia for a childhood steeped in whiskymaking lore, and by a distinct lack of zeal for his law-firm day job, Kevin agrees to drive him the 2,000-odd miles from Arizona.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of zeal
Noun
  • His predictions mostly involved preaching to the AI evangelist choir, and his fervor for the tech evidently led him to throw caution to the winds of Wall Street.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The love goes both ways; Fanning credits the fervor of the Hunger Games fanbase with helping her land the role of Effie Trinket.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fervor
Noun
  • In terms of driving verve, the Accord certainly has the edge over the Corolla and is a better family vehicle because of its superior cabin and cargo space.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Neighboring Eastern Caribbean music styles—Bouyon from Dominica, Jab Jab tunes from Grenada—are staples in Antigua, adding to the frenetic verve on the road.
    — Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of verve
Noun
  • And surrounding all the onstage brio is, at long last, an equally vibrant space.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026
  • In recent years, his expansive designing brio has expanded to cars with BMW, boats with Cigarette Racing and a private Kith padel club in Manhattan’s West Village that includes an Erewhon tonic bar.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
Definition of brio
Noun
  • The story was retold again a couple months later in 2009, but with less gusto.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Pierre and Chandler play off each other with gusto and finesse.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of gusto
Noun
  • Cutting back is done in mid-summer when foliage looks ragged and blooming slows to increase plant vigor, control height, and encourage a second flush of blooms.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Kittle, seven weeks since tearing his right Achilles in a wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia, was seen conditioning with vigor and impressive agility on a side field earlier this week.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of vigor
Noun
  • There’s Tom Crutchfield, who loves women with the ardor of Pepé Le Pew but spends most of his time not in pursuit of the ladies but of exotic snakes, lizards, alligators, turtles and whatnot.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Or Ada, the focus of Desacroux’s ardor and obsession after a rapturous night five years prior?
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of ardor
Noun
  • Posture is often more important than vitality, since deathblows can be activated even if an enemy has high health, but higher health also aids faster posture recovery, both for Wolf and his enemies.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Achieving vitality, strength and confidence is possible at any age, but knowing which steps to take to support a changing body is a form of empowerment that can be difficult to find.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of vitality

Browse Nearby Words

elaborations
élan
élan vital
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“élan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/%C3%A9lan. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All