1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun ardor differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ardor are enthusiasm, fervor, passion, and zeal. While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

Where would enthusiasm be a reasonable alternative to ardor?

While the synonyms enthusiasm and ardor are close in meaning, enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

never showed much enthusiasm for sports

When is fervor a more appropriate choice than ardor?

The meanings of fervor and ardor largely overlap; however, fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

read the poem aloud with great fervor

When is it sensible to use passion instead of ardor?

While in some cases nearly identical to ardor, passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

was a slave to his passions

When might zeal be a better fit than ardor?

The synonyms zeal and ardor are sometimes interchangeable, but zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

preaches with fanatical zeal

Examples 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 ardor Can Paris deliver on the ardor, the enthusiasm Macron promised that day in Lausanne and provide a springboard to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles? Scott M. Reid, Orange County Register, 19 July 2024 But any non-cynic can’t help but be swept up in its doomed ardor. 53. Will Leitch, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024 As an alternative, de Meo has pleaded with policymakers to increase demand incentives for cautious European drivers, whose ardor for EVs has cooled in recent years amid inflationary pressures. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 May 2024 In their steamiest moments together, Coughlan and Newton emit a tenderness that instantly wipes away any doubts a viewer could possibly have about the characters’ ardor for each other. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for ardor 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ardor
Noun
  • After a standoff between Indian and Chinese troops on the border in 2017, New Delhi moved to revive the Quad despite not showing much enthusiasm when the partnership was founded in 2007.
    Harsh V. Pant, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Despite meeting more than 10 external leaders, the CEO ultimately promoted their operations director due to a long-standing, trusting relationship and the internal candidate’s sincere enthusiasm for the role.
    Gina Riley, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Or maybe your thirst for wine knowledge rivals your thirst for wine.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2024
  • For all my thirst for ghost stories as a kid, the ghost-hunting fad that came later never really captured my imagination in the same way.
    Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • As does her passion for pasta, which echoes time spent at the late Del Posto in NYC.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
  • As a former human resources case manager, Fink pursued her lifelong passion for cooking during the pandemic, taking online classes and experimenting with recipes as a stress reliever.
    Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The bright orange-and-red water spouts off the cliff with the visual intensity of a raging forest fire.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
  • High intensity activities mean fit and brightness are super important.
    Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Love, lust, and vulnerability have become signature themes for Hunxho, who hails from North Carolina but was raised in East Atlanta.
    Yoh Phillips, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Like Water for Chocolate is a melodrama in the best possible sense of the word—a larger-than-life historical epic of love and lust, birth and death, duty and destiny.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The cerebral cortex is the brain’s outermost layer and is involved in many of the higher functions of the human brain including memory, learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and emotions..
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Election seasons often evoke a mix of emotions, ranging from hope for the future to intense worry over what may come.
    Luciana Paulise, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Copy the queen of the reaction image by wearing it as a standalone top with jeans, or layer it over T-shirts and sweaters for extra warmth.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Sadhguru’s childhood was steeped in the warmth and creativity of his mother, whose influence still echoes profoundly in his life.
    Mandeep Rai, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near ardor

Cite this Entry

“Ardor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ardor. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on ardor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!