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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fervent different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fervent are ardent, fervid, impassioned, passionate, and perfervid. While all these words mean "showing intense feeling," fervent stresses sincerity and steadiness of emotional warmth or zeal.

fervent good wishes

When might ardent be a better fit than fervent?

While in some cases nearly identical to fervent, ardent implies an intense degree of zeal, devotion, or enthusiasm.

an ardent supporter of human rights

Where would fervid be a reasonable alternative to fervent?

While the synonyms fervid and fervent are close in meaning, fervid suggests warmly and spontaneously and often feverishly expressed emotion.

fervid love letters

When is impassioned a more appropriate choice than fervent?

The meanings of impassioned and fervent largely overlap; however, impassioned implies warmth and intensity without violence and suggests fluent verbal expression.

an impassioned plea for justice

When could passionate be used to replace fervent?

The words passionate and fervent can be used in similar contexts, but passionate implies great vehemence and often violence and wasteful diffusion of emotion.

a passionate denunciation

When would perfervid be a good substitute for fervent?

Although the words perfervid and fervent have much in common, perfervid implies the expression of exaggerated or overwrought feelings.

perfervid expressions of patriotism

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fervent Less fervent Protestant denominations demurred, but the Rapture helped fill evangelical churches while creating a mainstream end-of-times industry. Arthur Krystal, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 Donald Trump goes low, Elon Musk goes Sieg heil!, and Mark Zuckerberg goes so macho January 25, 2025 Reading Time: 5 minutes The intense run-up to oligarchic rule was reflected in our poll results, as many of the system’s most fervent supporters (that is, oligarchs) continued to strut and crow. airmail.news, 25 Jan. 2025 Perhaps, if they are rewarded with stronger communities, more fervent followers, and resulting remuneration. Cherie Brooke Luo, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 But as Paul starts to meet the prophetic expectations of his most fervent followers, there are signs of a holy war that could have terrible consequences. Scott Tobias, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fervent 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fervent
Adjective
  • The tight retails for $118, and comes in such colors as black, desert red, passionate pink, lavender lux, magenta smoke, washed denim, true navy, espresso, Army green and solar gray.
    Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025
  • An active member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Alexandra Owens is passionate about writing stories that highlight the power and potential of responsible ecotourism.
    Alexandra Owens, AFAR Media, 10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas.
    Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020
  • If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.
    Washington Post, Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019
Adjective
  • It’s finished with red wood veneer, which adds a rustic and warm feel to the piece.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Grant was polite and warm, albeit confused about having an indoor life and this influx of love and care.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Four years ago, Officer Daniel Hodges was called upon to defend the Capitol against a pro-Trump mob and wound up being pinned by the throng in a doorway of the building, in one of the most searing images of the violence that erupted on Jan. 6, 2021.
    Alan Feuer, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
  • And the most searing one was my son Beau wasn't there.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The lady from New York, their big thing was called white hot hot dogs — really unique, smaller, and a larger ring bologna diameter.
    Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Spicy foods, caffeine, hot drinks, and alcohol can contribute to overheating.5 Evidence suggests that diets rich in phytoestrogens—plant compounds that act similarly to the hormone estrogen—may help balance hormone levels and ease hot flashes.
    Sarah Jividen, Health, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In their posh Palm Springs home, Polly and Lyman Wyeth (at Cygnet, played by Rosina Reynolds and Alan Rust) are ardent Republicans.
    David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Friends and family remember Stephanie and Roger as extremely devoted parents and ardent supporters of Cory’s budding skating career.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Ben Johnson has a ‘burning desire’ to be a head coach.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
  • For answers to more burning questions about Season 2, plus Season 3 clues (including which Season 1 character will be coming back), read Deadline’s interview with The Night Agent showrunner Shawn Ryan.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • With rain that could be intense enough to cause #mudslides.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The price war, sparked by Tesla two years ago, has become so intense that BYD asked its suppliers late last year to deliver hefty price reductions of 10% for the coming year.
    Hassan Tayir, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near fervent

Cite this Entry

“Fervent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fervent. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fervent

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