The Meaning of Passionate: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of passionate? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word passionate, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word passionate mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word passionate is an adjective that means having an intense emotion, strong feeling, or strong sexual desire for something. The noun form of passionate is passion, and the suffix ly can be added to the end of passionate to make the related word passionately (adv.). The word passionate is three syllables – pas-sion-ate, and the pronunciation of passionate is ˈpæʃənɪt.

Many things can evoke this intense feeling or emotion of intensity, including a passionate community, passionate love affair, passionate grief, passionate language, passionate devotion, passionate vehemence for something, an impassioned plea, a passionate advocate of socialism, a passionate person, a passionate lover, a strong belief, a passionate temperament of powerful emotions, passionate affection shown with great excitement, passionate sexual feelings in the context of romance like the term lust, or an eager interest above one’s usual emotion. 

Many different languages also contain words that mean passionate. You may notice that some of these different words look and sound similar to one another. These are called cognates, which are formed when two words have the same root or language of origin. The below list of translations of the word passionate is provided by Word Sense.

  •  Finnish: intohimoinen‎, kiihkeä‎, tulinen‎, palava‎
  •  Korean: 불타는‎
  •  Russian: стра́стный‎, пы́лкий‎
  •  Spanish: apasionado‎
  •  Latin: passionatus‎
  •  Maori: remurere‎, tūkaha‎, kohara‎
  •  Catalan: apassionat‎
  •  Galician: apaixonado‎
  •  Basque: sutsua‎
  •  Danish: lidenskabelig‎
  •  Czech: vášnivý‎ (masc.)
  •  French: passionné‎
  •  Serbo-Croatian: žarki‎ (masc.)
  •  Afrikaans: passievol‎
  •  Japanese: 熱烈‎ (netsuretsu)
  •  Italian: appassionato‎
  •  Portuguese: ardente‎ (masc.)
  •  Mandarin: 多情‎ (duōqíng), 熾熱‎, 炽热‎ (chìrè), 熱情‎, 热情‎ (rèqíng)
  •  Old English: hātheort‎, grambære‎, geallig‎, iersigendlic‎
  •  Georgian: ვნებიანი‎, მგზნებარე‎, ცხოველი‎, ფიცხი‎
  •  Hungarian: szenvedélyes‎
  •  German: leidenschaftlich‎
  •  Swedish: passionerad‎, lidelsefull‎
  •  Irish: ainmhianach‎
  •  Esperanto: pasia‎
  •  Greek: παθιασμένος‎
  •  Icelandic: ástríðufullur‎
  •  Scottish Gaelic: dian‎, dìoghrasach‎, feargach‎
  •  Haitian Creole: pasyone‎
  •  Vietnamese: đam mê‎, dể giận‎
  •  Romanian: înflăcărat‎ (masc.)

What is the origin of the word passionate?

According to Etymonline, the word passionate has been used cine early c15 Late Middle English passional and comes from the Medieval Latin passionatus/Medieval Latin passiōnātus and Medieval Latin passionalis meaning “affected with passion,” from the Late Latin passiōn and Latin passio, the genitive passionis meaning “suffering, enduring.”

How can the word passionate be used in a sentence?

The word passionate (adj., ˈpæʃənət) can be used in many different ways in many different sentences. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definitions. You can also try making flashcards or quizzes to test your knowledge. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today – below are a couple of examples of passionate to get you started. 

Robert was passionate about using social media to boost small businesses. This media distribution on Facebook and Twitter was the best way for these small businesses to stay open. 

She had a passionate admiration for her alma mater Princeton University. She made it her life’s mission to continue working there to raise up the next generation of Princeton attendees.

Her passion for her job was infectious. The entire company saw how much she loved working there and it made other people want to work harder. She was a joy to have in the office and always lit up a room. 

What are synonyms and antonyms of passionate?

There are many different words that have the same meaning as the word passionate. These are called synonyms, which can be used interchangeably with the word passionate and are useful to know if you are trying to avoid repeating yourself or simply expand your vocabulary. This list of synonyms of passionate is provided by Power Thesaurus.

  •  sincere
  •  committed
  •  impulsive
  •  sentimental
  •  burning
  •  sexy
  •  animated
  •  rabid
  •  spirited
  •  vehement
  •  fired up
  •  angry
  •  fervent
  •  heartfelt
  •  fanatical
  •  steamy
  •  active
  •  lively
  •  hot
  •  hotblooded
  •  fervid
  •  turbulent
  •  glowing
  •  wholehearted
  •  loving
  •  flaming
  •  zealous
  •  obsessive
  •  heated
  •  quick-tempered
  •  touchy
  •  ardent
  •  avid
  •  explosive
  •  romantic
  •  tempestuous
  •  hot-blooded
  •  forceful
  •  sexual
  •  sensual
  •  red-hot
  •  fierce
  •  dynamic
  •  impassioned
  •  irascible
  •  ablaze
  •  frenzied
  •  stimulated
  •  excitable
  •  frantic
  •  torrid
  •  fiery
  •  wild
  •  devout
  •  soulful
  •  lustful
  •  vigorous
  •  tumultuous
  •  fond
  •  powerful
  •  emotional
  •  dedicated
  •  excited
  •  furious
  •  intense
  •  feverish
  •  earnest
  •  energetic
  •  warm
  •  amorous
  •  choleric
  •  expressive
  •  concupiscent
  •  inflamed
  •  blazing
  •  aroused
  •  randy
  •  sultry
  •  stormy
  •  perfervid
  •  eager
  •  resolute
  •  hearty
  •  desirous
  •  tender
  •  violent
  •  temperamental
  •  erotic
  •  volatile
  •  amatory
  •  impetuous
  •  enthusiastic
  •  stirring
  •  in love
  •  sizzling
  •  strong
  •  libidinous
  •  horny
  •  devoted
  •  keen

There are also many different words that mean the opposite of the word passionate. These are called antonyms, which are also useful to know if you’re trying to expand your vocabulary. This list of antonyms of passionate is also provided by Power Thesaurus

  •  calm
  •  unconcerned
  •  cold
  •  distant
  •  expressionless
  •  dull
  •  inactive
  •  stoic
  •  deadpan
  •  uninterested
  •  uncaring
  •  depressed
  •  impassive
  •  halfhearted
  •  detached
  •  quiet
  •  idle
  •  frigid
  •  lazy
  •  cool
  •  cool as a cucumber
  •   impersonal
  •  laodicean
  •  clinical
  •  numb
  •  bored by
  •  callous
  •  half-hearted
  •  objective
  •  lethargic
  •  sluggish
  •  apathetic towards
  •  formal
  •  nonchalant about
  •  imperturbable
  •  empty
  •  equable
  •  inscrutable
  •  not busy
  •  unmoved
  •  controlled
  •  remote
  •  composed
  •  forbidding
  •  non-committal
  •  lukewarm about
  •  reserved
  •  nonoperating
  •  dead
  •  gelid
  •  couldn’t-care-less
  •  inert
  •  unambitious
  •  affectless
  •  hard-hearted
  •  level-headed
  •  cold-blooded
  •  vacant
  •  lukewarm
  •  incurious about
  •  impassible
  •  cool-headed
  •  cold-eyed
  •  collected
  •  unsympathetic
  •  frosty
  •  offhand about
  •  torpid
  •  inoperative
  •  glacial
  •  wooden
  •  apathetic
  •  lackadaisical
  •  blank
  •  unfeeling
  •  indifferent
  •  passive
  •  unresponsive
  •  inexpressive
  •  languid
  •  dispassionate
  •  nonchalant
  •  peaceful
  •  passionless
  •  uninvolved
  •  phlegmatic
  •  unenthusiastic
  •  aloof
  •  flat
  •  dry
  •  unmotivated
  •  undemonstrative
  •  icy
  •  stolid
  •  bored
  •  emotionless
  •  devoid of emotion
  •  listless
  •  disinterested
  •  unemotional

Overall, the word passionate means having powerful emotions. This adjective can be used in many different contexts, from an intense sexual feeling to a burning psychological heat for a topic. 

Sources:

  1. Passionate definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 
  2. passionate: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  3. Passionate synonyms – 2 028 Words and Phrases for Passionate | Power Thesaurus 
  4. passionate | Origin and meaning of passionate | Online Etymology Dictionary 
  5. Passionate antonyms – 692 Opposites of Passionate | Power Thesaurus