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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun enthusiasm differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of enthusiasm are ardor, fervor, passion, and zeal. While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

never showed much enthusiasm for sports

When would ardor be a good substitute for enthusiasm?

While in some cases nearly identical to enthusiasm, ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

When might fervor be a better fit than enthusiasm?

The synonyms fervor and enthusiasm are sometimes interchangeable, but fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

read the poem aloud with great fervor

When could passion be used to replace enthusiasm?

While the synonyms passion and enthusiasm are close in meaning, passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

was a slave to his passions

Where would zeal be a reasonable alternative to enthusiasm?

The words zeal and enthusiasm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

preaches with fanatical zeal

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 enthusiasm We should all be thrilled by the enthusiasm for our new company. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2025 After so much enthusiasm and excitement following his winter move from Mercedes, reality is setting in for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. Luke Smith, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 The company was able to lean on the enthusiasm and raw, emotional responses that moviegoers, including social media influencers, were having to the film. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025 Both Until Dawn and The Quarry—along with Supermassive’s series of shorter anthology horror games, The Dark Pictures Anthology, which Fessenden and Reznick kicked off with Man of Medan (2018) —have gained the attention and enthusiasm of video gamers and cinephiles. Richard Newby, Time, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enthusiasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enthusiasm
Noun
  • The latests deaths included three residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas, as well as a Balch Springs man in his 20s and a Dallas man in his 60s.
    Dana Branham, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2020
  • That equates to more than 45 million Americans using CBD products, based on latest available U.S. Census estimates.
    Brendan Bures, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Noun
  • Better to be parched with thirst, better to pray for pain, pain, and more pain, than to feel empty, and to feel so without truly feeling at all.
    Peter Nguyen, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
  • But with that life comes the eternal dark thirst, too.
    Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • There has to be urgency, there has to be force, there has to be intensity, there has to [be] concentration.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025
  • The narrative, though minimal, resonates through its intensity and restraint.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The Moral Threat of Bicycles in the 1890s Livia Gershon February 22, 2016 The bicycle craze of the 19th century, in which both men and women participated, was seen as a moral affront by church leaders.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
  • But caring for your gut doesn’t necessarily mean latching onto the latest health craze bandwagon or TikTok food fad.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Obscenity laws, most aggressively enforced by the U.S. Postal Service, attempted to keep that excitement within bounds—no uncovered or obviously aroused penises, no affectionate or suggestive physical contact.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
  • Everyone joined in and cheered while Rumi jumped around the stage in excitement.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • Though Justin and Keisha, and Katherine and Michael (Blume’s characters), are dealing with the same party-pack of teenage emotions — uncertainty, humiliation, brilliance, headassness — their experiences aren’t the same.
    Jazmine Hughes, Vulture, 2 May 2025
  • Detroit and New York traded blows throughout the fourth, with the crowd at Little Caesars Arena going through a rollercoaster of emotions.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • In a world of evolving design trends, modular furniture is more than just a fleeting moment.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025
  • The incident reportedly led to one student going to the hospital due to smoke inhalation and is suspected to be connected to the viral trend.
    Ashley Belanger – May 9, ArsTechnica, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The Danger Within The biggest threat that Rogoff sees to the dollar’s future is the lack of appetite to reverse the growth in US debt.
    Kevin Coldiron, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • Smith said the skin can undergo further harm, as many are often undernourished thanks to the decrease in appetite from the drugs.
    Emily Burns, Footwear News, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enthusiasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enthusiasm. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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