fervent

adjective

fer·​vent ˈfər-vənt 

1

: very hot : glowing

the fervent sun

2

: exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling : zealous

fervent prayers

a fervent proponent

fervent patriotism

fervently adverb

Synonyms

• ardent
• blazing
• burning
• charged
• demonstrative
• emotional
• fervid
• feverish
• fiery
• flaming
• glowing
• hot-blooded
• impassioned
• incandescent
• intense
• passional
• passionate
• perfervid
• red-hot
• religious
• superheated
• torrid
• vehement
• warm
• warm-blooded

Choose the Right Synonym for fervent

impassioned, passionate, ardent, fervent, fervid, perfervid mean showing intense feeling.

impassioned implies warmth and intensity without violence and suggests fluent verbal expression.

an impassioned plea for justice

passionate implies great vehemence and often violence and wasteful diffusion of emotion.

a passionate denunciation

ardent implies an intense degree of zeal, devotion, or enthusiasm.

an ardent supporter of human rights

fervent stresses sincerity and steadiness of emotional warmth or zeal.

fervent good wishes

fervid suggests warmly and spontaneously and often feverishly expressed emotion.

fervid love letters

perfervid implies the expression of exaggerated or overwrought feelings.

perfervid expressions of patriotism

Examples of fervent in a Sentence

a fervent speech that called for tolerance and compassion for those who are different

in the thick, fervent air of a tropical afternoon, a languor set in

Recent Examples on the Web

Nevertheless, a belief in the need for Britain’s nuclear weapons, however fervent, does not mean that the weapons are in good order. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 June 2024

The strongest supporters were the most confident; a Pew Research Center survey conducted that summer found that 96 percent of the most fervent backers of the incumbent president believed Biden wasn’t going to beat him. —Philip Bump, Washington Post, 18 June 2024

To be fair, the Blue Crew, the Kansas City Current’s most fervent supporters group, leads that chant after every goal. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2024

Those who sympathize with such fervent convictions describe them as steadfast values. —Christopher Blattman, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin fervent-, fervens, present participle of fervēre to boil, froth — more at barm

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fervent

adjective

fer·​vent ˈfər-vənt 

: having or expressing great warmth or depth of feeling

a fervent hope

fervency

-vən-sē

noun

fervently adverb