passionate
Americanadjective
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having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling; fervid.
a passionate advocate of socialism.
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easily aroused to or influenced by sexual desire; ardently sensual.
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expressing, showing, or marked by intense or strong feeling; emotional.
passionate language.
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intense or vehement, as emotions or feelings.
passionate grief.
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easily moved to anger; quick-tempered; irascible.
adjective
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manifesting or exhibiting intense sexual feeling or desire
a passionate lover
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capable of, revealing, or characterized by intense emotion
a passionate plea
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easily roused to anger; quick-tempered
Other Word Forms
- nonpassionate adjective
- nonpassionateness noun
- overpassionate adjective
- overpassionateness noun
- passionately adverb
- passionateness noun
- unpassionate adjective
- unpassionateness noun
Etymology
Origin of passionate
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin passiōnātus, equivalent to Late Latin passiōn- passion + Latin -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
Something that is passionate packs emotion, and possibly romantic emotion. A passionate plea will tug on your heartstrings and a passionate kiss will sweep you off your feet. If you want to stay unmoved, stay away from the passionate. If you're passionate about soccer, you can't get enough of it — you've got soccer pennants plastered on your walls, your TV is permanently tuned to the soccer channel, and you probably wear soccer jerseys under your button-down shirt. Passion can also come from intense feelings of love for a person. Be careful — you could be swept up in "a passionate embrace."
Vocabulary lists containing passionate
Positive Adjectives to Describe People
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Tuesdays with Morrie
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Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In one of his most passionate entreaties yet to end the raging conflict in the Middle East, the American pope said faith was needed "in order to face this dramatic hour in history together".
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
Lots of people do read, and they are passionate about books.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The young novelist “loves all things horror and is passionate about writing stories focused on feminine rage,” according to her Goodreads bio.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
The simple but lasting advice he was given: follow what makes you passionate.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
“It can be a bit dense. But I’m surprised you didn’t learn he was a passionate abolitionist, Shayla.”
From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
