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Synonyms

passionate

American  
[pash-uh-nit] / ˈpæʃ ə nɪt /

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 British  
/ 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

"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

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

Etymology

Origin of passionate

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

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.

Sifting through your responses, 14 films had the most passionate advocacy.

From Los Angeles Times

Addressing a crowd of over 200 people in Belfast, Carson told the young audience that if they are passionate enough about the creative industries "you can definitely make a job out of it".

From BBC

In a passionate address he declared that the continent had lost its sovereignty and was caught in a dependency trap.

From BBC

Hannaway remembered him as a "passionate theatregoer" who would sneak off to Manhattan to see Broadway shows and wait at the backstage door hoping to catch a glimpse of Barbara Streisand after watching Funny Girl.

From BBC

"To be a national team coach of such a large country with a big population that's passionate is a massive challenge," he told the Asian Football Confederation website.

From Barron's