passionate

[ pash-uh-nit ]

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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈpassionateness, noun
• ˈpassionately, adverb

Other Words From

• pas·sion·ate·ly adverb
• pas·sion·ate·ness noun
• non·pas·sion·ate adjective
• non·pas·sion·ate·ness noun
• o·ver·pas·sion·ate adjective
• o·ver·pas·sion·ate·ness noun
• un·pas·sion·ate adjective
• un·pas·sion·ate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of passionate¹

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

Example Sentences

Harvey, from Shrewsbury, who died alongside three friends in a car accident near Garreg, Gwynedd, was a passionate guitarist.

From BBC

Andre “Dre” Harris, a veteran producer and drummer, keeps time, and the passionate, lyrical strings were arranged and conducted by Ben Foster.

From Los Angeles Times

Look how intense, urgent, enthusiastic and passionate he is.’

From Los Angeles Times

I love them because people sufficiently passionate about their cause to trek to the capital and then make a public, almost certainly contentious, argument often deserve to be listened to and should be vigorously questioned too.

From BBC

Near the end of his set, he squared up behind a mic and started throwing out long, passionate vocal lines in a language I can’t say I recognized.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ardent
• dramatic
• eager
• eloquent
• emotional
• expressive
• fervent
• fierce
• fiery
• forceful
• heartfelt
• heated
• impassioned
• intense
• poignant
• spirited
• strong
• vehement
• violent
• zealous