intense
Americanadjective
-
existing or occurring in a high or extreme degree.
intense heat.
-
acute, strong, or vehement, as sensations, feelings, or emotions.
intense anger.
- Synonyms:
- strong, ardent, passionate, fervent
-
of an extreme kind; very great, as in strength, keenness, severity, or the like.
an intense gale.
-
having a characteristic quality in a high degree.
The intense sunlight was blinding.
-
strenuous or earnest, as activity, exertion, diligence, or thought.
an intense life.
-
exhibiting a high degree of some quality or action.
-
having or showing great strength, strong feeling, or tension, as a person, the face, or language.
-
susceptible to strong emotion; emotional.
an intense person.
-
(of color) very deep.
intense red.
-
Photography. dense.
adjective
-
of extreme force, strength, degree, or amount
intense heat
-
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
- hyperintense adjective
- hyperintenseness noun
- intensely adverb
- intenseness noun
- overintense adjective
- overintenseness noun
- superintense adjective
- superintenseness noun
Etymology
Origin of intense
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
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.
Why hasn’t the defense sector fared better amid the intense military conflict?
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
Quick cuts between Charlie, Mike and Rachel suggest their admissions are intense but relatively innocuous — things that can be laughed off and chalked up to childhood immaturity.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
Its heat-resistant design, originally intended for reentry on Earth and Mars, could be used to handle the intense heating from aerobraking in Uranus' atmosphere.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
Donohoe, of the World Bank, said the lender was "well positioned to assist countries in their economic response" and was engaged in "intense" talks with member states.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
For the next seven months, under Aleksandr Gridnev’s command, the young women and men of the 586th would experience the most intense fighting of their entire war.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
