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

• intenseness noun
• intensely adverb
• 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

The illness, which causes fever and intense joint pain, does not pass directly between people, so reducing mosquito populations remains the most effective way to prevent transmission.

Read more on Science Daily

Around 700,000 people from Gaza City and the north were displaced by the Israeli offensive, which saw intense aerial bombardment and the entry of troops into some neighbourhoods.

Read more on BBC

Decades later he would tell a high-school English teacher that the scene in which Rabbit’s wife, Janice, accidentally drowns their baby “was the most intense writing of my life.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He added senior Canadian and U.S. officials are now in intense talks about which energy projects might be worth pursuing.

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Much of the reason the Ripa-Consuelos team has been successful on TV is that they are enthusiastic, quarrelsome in an amusing way, but also intense.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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