passionate

[pash-uh-nit]

adjective

1. having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling; fervid.

   a passionate advocate of socialism.

   Synonyms: violent, fiery, burning, glowing, earnest, enthusiastic, warm, fervent, excited, impassioned, ardent, impetuous, impulsive, zealous, emotional, excitable
   Antonyms: calm, cool

2. easily aroused to or influenced by sexual desire; ardently sensual.

3. expressing, showing, or marked by intense or strong feeling; emotional.

   passionate language.

   Synonyms: violent, fiery, burning, glowing, earnest, enthusiastic, warm, fervent, excited, impassioned, ardent
   Antonyms: calm, cool

4. intense or vehement, as emotions or feelings.

   passionate grief.

   Synonyms: violent, fiery, burning, glowing, earnest, enthusiastic, warm, fervent, excited, impassioned, ardent
   Antonyms: calm, cool

5. easily moved to anger; quick-tempered; irascible.

   Synonyms: hotheaded, fiery, short-tempered, touchy, choleric, testy
   Antonyms: calm, cool

passionate

/ ˈpæʃənɪt /

adjective

1. manifesting or exhibiting intense sexual feeling or desire

   a passionate lover

2. capable of, revealing, or characterized by intense emotion

   a passionate plea

3. easily roused to anger; quick-tempered

Other Word Forms

• passionately adverb
• passionateness noun
• nonpassionate adjective
• nonpassionateness noun
• overpassionate adjective
• overpassionateness noun
• unpassionate adjective
• unpassionateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of passionate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin passiōnātus, equivalent to Late Latin passiōn- passion + Latin -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

This Argentina team have bona fide stars, a passionate heart and the ability to beat anyone if they get into their groove.

Read more on BBC

By the time Hamilton met them, Angelica was already married to an entrepreneurial Englishman of dubious character; the younger, less-flamboyant Eliza quickly formed a passionate bond with the scrappy, brilliant future U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I wanted to really show them how passionate I was.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said Sanders was passionate about fitness, liked to travel and was an “enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The judge delivered a passionate speech, arguing that no Ukrainian could be prosecuted for what he characterised as a legitimate act of self-defence against Russia's "bloody and genocidal" invasion of Ukraine.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ardent 
• dramatic 
• eager 
• eloquent 
• emotional 
• expressive 
• fervent 
• fierce 
• fiery 
• forceful 
• heartfelt 
• heated 
• impassioned 
• intense 
• poignant 
• spirited 
• strong 
• vehement 
• violent 
• zealous