vehemence

[ vee-uh-muhns ]

noun

1. the quality of being vehement; ardor; fervor.

   Synonyms: eagerness, fervency, enthusiasm, zeal, verve

   Antonyms: apathy

2. vigorous impetuosity; fury:

   the vehemence of his attack.

   Synonyms: passion

   Antonyms: apathy

Other Words From

• over·vehe·mence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vehemence¹

1520–30; < Latin vehementia; vehement, -ence

Example Sentences

Strong, the teacher from Texas, said he has been struck over the last two years by right-wing vehemence directed at educators opposed to banning certain books on race and sexuality.

From Los Angeles Times

Attempts to reckon with the root causes of these issues are met with vitriol and censorship, and the kinds of solutions that might actually help broad swaths of people—such as student loan forgiveness or single-payer health care—are blocked with such vehemence that it can feel like a personal insult.

From Slate

At a recent campaign event at a brewpub in Whitefish, Mont., Ryan Busse was laying into his political opponent, Montana’s Republican governor, Greg Gianforte, with surprising vehemence for a red-state Democrat.

From New York Times

Republicans have generally encouraged Israel to prosecute its war in Gaza with even more vehemence than their Democratic counterparts.

From Salon

Or, worse, when that world is breaking down with such vehemence that the air seems to grow more toxic by the minute?

From New York Times

Related Words

• fervor