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 Any time Riley has failed to produce offensively this season the ire from Braves Country grows fervent. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 31 July 2026 In part this is because New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, also a fervent anti-Zionist, attracted so much attention and controversy in his campaign last year that El-Sayed’s run feels like a tamer sequel. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Still, there’s a reason Inside the Actors Studio ran for 22 seasons and the most fervent alt-rap acolytes are constantly begging their idols to empty their hard drives. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 Russia, already shock-therapied into unprecedented national calamity, was beginning to recoil from fervent Americanophilia into vengeful ultra-nationalism. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 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
  • The president of the new campus is Tamekia Morris, a passionate advocate for getting more women into skilled trades.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Those who visit annually or several times during the year are deeply passionate about the live shows, character meet-and-greets, holiday food specials, seasonal festivals and parades and nighttime spectaculars that these parks provide.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 17 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
  • The service Service here is warm and deeply personal rather than stiff or overly formal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Velvet filter softens the overall contrast and wraps the scene in a warmer, vintage-like tone that makes the blues and purples feel richer.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • Now, after two losing campaigns, each with dramatic, eye-searing collapses, this year may be Norvell’s last.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Stephens arrives as if the plan remained intact, her head-to-toe leather look rebelling against the searing heat.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 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
  • It’s been hot in Pasadena lately, and according to Cat Chen, the best way to deal with the heat is simple—have your friends over, keep the AC running, and serve a refreshing menu alongside a crisp white wine.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Commerce production assistant Hailey Roy, who has 3C curls, actually skips a hot tool altogether.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hot
Adjective
  • 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
  • Several of his most ardent supporters who attended Friday’s hearing were seen weeping in the courtroom benches.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 14 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 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fervent

Nglish: Translation of fervent for Spanish Speakers

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