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impassioned

American  
[im-pash-uhnd] / ɪmˈpæʃ ənd /

adjective

  1. filled with intense feeling or passion; passionate; ardent.

    Synonyms:
    fiery, fervent, vehement, emotional
    Antonyms:
    apathetic

impassioned British  
/ ɪmˈpæʃənd /

adjective

  1. filled with passion; fiery; inflamed

    an impassioned appeal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of impassioned

First recorded in 1595–1605; impassion + -ed 2

Explanation

If something is impassioned it's filled with or demonstrating intense emotion. Anything can be impassioned — speech, a play, a conversation, a novel, or even you. Impassioned comes from the Latin word passionem, meaning "suffering or enduring," and originally referred to the suffering of Christ on the cross, known as "The Passion." In other words, impassioned had a sense of trauma and anguish associated with it and only later did it come to describe happier feelings as well. Whatever the emotional feeling behind impassioned, it's still a word that suggests profound feeling and sincerity on behalf of the user.

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Vocabulary lists containing impassioned

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.

Authorities have responded to the impassioned calls for the movie to be screened in Teochew.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026

Ms. Horn makes an impassioned case for Mr. Schaller’s legacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Arias and Myart-Cruz gave impassioned speeches hailing the last-minute deals, which still need to be approved by union members and the school board.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

With exhilarating charisma, stage energy and impassioned lyrics, Senegalese musician Sahad has created a unique body of work from a kaleidoscope of influences, culminating in his new pan-African album.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

The rest of us just sat back and tuned out his impassioned speech on the importance of good hygiene.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

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