passionate

adjective

pas·​sion·​ate ˈpa-sh(ə-)nət 

1

a

: easily aroused to anger

a passionate but not a vicious boy

—H. E. Scudder

b

: filled with anger : angry

was passionate in her defense of her cub, and rage transformed her

—G. D. Brown

2

a

: capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling

a passionate performance

a passionate coach

b

: enthusiastic, ardent

is passionate about basketball

3

: swayed by or affected with sexual desire

a passionate love affair

passionateness noun

Synonyms

• concupiscent
• goatish
• horny
• hot
• hypersexual
• itchy
• lascivious
• lecherous
• lewd
• libidinous
• licentious
• lubricious
• lubricous
• lustful
• oversexed
• randy
• salacious
• satyric
• wanton

Choose the Right Synonym for passionate

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 passionate in a Sentence

He gave a passionate speech on tax reform.

She has a passionate interest in animal rights.

She is passionate about art.

We were moved by his passionate plea for forgiveness.

Recent Examples on the Web

The newlyweds wake up hungry after a passionate wedding night, which is when Mel remembers that Charmaine never did turn up yesterday. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024

But the importance of bird conservation does not start or end with one passionate 21-year-old. —Eliza Principe Garcia, Baltimore Sun, 18 Dec. 2024

Someone passionate about keeping skin hydrated 100% of the time will appreciate it for its intelligent blend of five peptides, 2.5% niacinamide, alongside vitamin- and omega-rich oils, which not only target dryness, but improve skin’s firmness and tone with consistent use. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024

Think of craft cannabis producers as the indie bands of the cannabis world—small-scale, passionate, and focused on quality. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

passionate

adjective

pas·​sion·​ate ˈpash-(ə-)nət 

1

: excited or easily excited to strong feeling

2

: showing or expressing strong feeling

3

: strongly affected with sexual desire

passionately adverb