intense

[in-tens]

adjective

1. existing or occurring in a high or extreme degree.

   intense heat.

2. acute, strong, or vehement, as sensations, feelings, or emotions.

   intense anger.

   Synonyms: strong, ardent, passionate, fervent

3. of an extreme kind; very great, as in strength, keenness, severity, or the like.

   an intense gale.

4. having a characteristic quality in a high degree.

   The intense sunlight was blinding.

5. strenuous or earnest, as activity, exertion, diligence, or thought.

   an intense life.

6. exhibiting a high degree of some quality or action.

7. having or showing great strength, strong feeling, or tension, as a person, the face, or language.

8. susceptible to strong emotion; emotional.

   an intense person.

9. (of color) very deep.

   intense red.

10. Photography.,  dense.

intense

/ ɪnˈtɛns /

adjective

1. of extreme force, strength, degree, or amount

   intense heat

2. characterized by deep or forceful feelings

   an intense person

Usage

Intense is sometimes wrongly used where intensive is meant: the land is under intensive (not intense ) cultivation. Intensely is sometimes wrongly used where intently is meant: he listened intently (not intensely )

Other Word Forms

• intensely adverb
• intenseness noun
• hyperintense adjective
• hyperintenseness noun
• overintense adjective
• overintenseness noun
• superintense adjective
• superintenseness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intense¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin intēnsus, variant of intentus, past participle of the verb intendere “to stretch toward”; in- ², tense ¹, intent ², intend

Word History and Origins

Origin of intense¹

C14: from Latin intensus stretched, from intendere to stretch out; see _intend

Example Sentences

Behind the intense competition in food delivery and instant shopping among the e-commerce players is the fight to become China’s everyday app for transactions across goods and services, according to Goldman Sachs analysts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But as she’s quick to point out, awards season is a much more intense experience than it was 40 years ago.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This explains why, at the most intense moment of the stock-market crash around March 20, U.S.

Read more on MarketWatch

One moment, a pulsating EDM beat, beaming lasers and intense fog machines took over the stage — emulating a rave.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The competition in building a foundation model is intense and we think Meta has fallen behind its competitors,” he added.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• acute 
• bitter 
• deep 
• energetic 
• excessive 
• extraordinary 
• extreme 
• fierce 
• great 
• harsh 
• heightened www.thesaurus.com
• intensified www.thesaurus.com
• intensive 
• powerful 
• profound 
• protracted 
• sharp 
• strong 
• violent 
• vivid