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

By piecing together the conversations, rivalries and romances of these passionate advocates, he shows us the ways that they were real people doing the best they could with the information they had.

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He insists they are "passionate" about the club and, when asked if they might order him to sack Amorim, said: "That's not going to happen."

Read more on BBC

“Every day I discover more. I need to go back to fiction for a while — documentaries are exhausting. But I can’t complain. I wish everyone could be as passionate about their work as I am.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He also voiced frustration with Canadians' discontent with the US, saying "it is very, very difficult to find Canadians who are passionate about the American-Canadian relationship".

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“That’s the coolest thing about Travis, he is so passionate about what he does that me being passionate about what I do, it connects us,” Swift said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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