fervent

adjective

ˈfər-vənt How to pronounce fervent (audio)
Definition of ferventnext
1
as in passionate
having or expressing great depth of feeling a fervent speech that called for tolerance and compassion for those who are different

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature in the thick, fervent air of a tropical afternoon, a languor set in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The Red Sox did finally break the curse that year, but the rivalry remains as fervent as ever. — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 Unlike e-commerce giants Amazon or Craigslist, Whatnot deliberately targeted a small but fervent base of collectors. — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 After spending last summer in the heat of Hong Kong and South Korea, where the Tottenham supporter base is large and fervent, opting for Australia and New Zealand offered a welcome change of pace. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Earlier in the day, rising star Sienna Spiro performed on the Airbnb stage, which was packed with fervent fans who sang along to her cuts from debut album, Visitor. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fervent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fervent
  1. passionate
  2. boiling
  3. warm
  4. searing
  5. passional
  6. hot
  7. ardent
  8. burning
Adjective
  • Over the last six months of development, Carla has certainly proved to be a passionate writer and producer.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Three decades removed, Westwood is still a cinematic ghost town that passionate film lovers are trying to revive.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of passionate
Adjective
  • More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of boiling
Adjective
  • This luxe accent chair invites fall into your home with its rich velvet upholstery and warm cinnamon shade.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The temperature on Monday reached 81 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening with an average humidity level of 72 percent — warm but not unbearable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • The rolling mountain landscape becomes an undulating patchwork quilt of searing scarlets, terracottas, vermillions, and more.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Once the film was released, critics widely praised Page’s searing performance as the doomed Greek soldier Sinon, and even some of Page’s detractors online were won over by his work.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of searing
Adjective
  • At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022
Definition of passional
Adjective
  • Which way silverware should be placed in a dishwasher is the subject of hot debates.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
  • When combined with a hot blanket of the humidity the city has endured throughout the summer, players could be forced to withdraw from their matches or push through, risking injury.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of hot
Adjective
  • Now, the paragraph on the website describes Alvarado as an ardent supporter of bipartisanship who is focused on affordability.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Mazloum announced the yeti repair — as well as the return of fan-favorite characters Dreamfinder and Figment to Epcot in Florida and an overhaul of Tomorrowland in California — to some of Disney's most ardent fans on Saturday.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of ardent
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
Definition of burning

Browse Nearby Words

fervency
fervent
fervid
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Cite this Entry

“Fervent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fervent. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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