PASSION Synonyms: 243 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'passion' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of passion are affection , emotion , feeling , and sentiment . While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion. // revenge became his ruling passion

Q: When is it sensible to use 'affection' instead of 'passion'?

The synonyms affection and passion are sometimes interchangeable, but affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings. // a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

Q: How are the words 'emotion' and 'feeling' related as synonyms of 'passion'?

Emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling , encompasses both positive and negative responses. // the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence

Q: When would 'feeling' be a good substitute for 'passion'?

The meanings of feeling and passion largely overlap; however, feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it. // the feelings that once moved me are gone

Q: When can 'sentiment' be used instead of 'passion'?

The words sentiment and passion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea. // her feminist sentiments are well known

passion

noun

ˈpa-shən

Definition of passion

as in enthusiasm

depth of feeling your passion for your cause is admirable, but you still can't insult people who disagree with you

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as in love

a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone married at the age of 18, they share a passion that has lasted for over half a century

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in crush

a strong but often short-lived liking for another person her passion passed when she got to know him

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as in desire

a strong wish for something a passion to become a doctor

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in emotion

a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation people are sometimes slaves to their own passions

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in feeling

passions plural general emotional condition people who are swayed by their passions and not by reason

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as in lust

intense sexual desire their relationship began with passion but a deep love quickly grew between them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frigidity

as in lustfulness

sexual appetite the kind of pent-up passion that comes from having spent the winter in remote isolation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word passion distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of passion are affection, emotion, feeling, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When is it sensible to use affection instead of passion?

The synonyms affection and passion are sometimes interchangeable, but affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

How are the words emotion and feeling related as synonyms of passion?

Emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses.

the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence

When would feeling be a good substitute for passion?

The meanings of feeling and passion largely overlap; however, feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it.

the feelings that once moved me are gone

When can sentiment be used instead of passion?

The words sentiment and passion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

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 passion The application also includes questions about their passion for the frozen treat. — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 These panels provide practical tips on everything from fast, effective video editing to building a brand without quitting your day job – and discovering how creators are turning their passions into careers. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 The circuit was something of a passion project for PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, an avid golfer. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026 His son was raised around hockey rinks and locker rooms, sparking an early passion. — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for passion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for passion

Noun

Nvidia posted blockbuster second-quarter results, and the enthusiasm is spilling over into other parts of the semiconductor sector.

— Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Younger consumers' enthusiasm for fall, a desire to plan ahead and retailers' efforts to extend seasonal spending may all be helping drive the shift.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of enthusiasm

Noun

The cabbage wedge sits over a fluffy whip of tahini and labneh, all served beneath a crush of peanuts.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Despite the initial awkwardness, Olive and Adam later agree to fake date to ensure Anh will pursue things with her crush Jeremy, someone Olive once had a crush on, now knowing Olive has since moved on.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of crush

Noun

All the climate stories in this show are part of the desire to be authentic, but also speak to what our audiences are living through.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Younger consumers' enthusiasm for fall, a desire to plan ahead and retailers' efforts to extend seasonal spending may all be helping drive the shift.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of desire

Noun

Set in the high-stakes world of academia, The Love Hypothesis explores the delicate dance between science and emotion, reason and risk—and what happens when love defies logic.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Todd, who produces the film, recalls the emotions of visiting the set for the first time, during a scene that struck a personal chord with her experience with her son.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of emotion

Noun

But such is the strength of feeling, former Love managing director Letty Kavanagh has launched twin lawsuits against Sky for wrongful dismissal and unpaid severance, as revealed by Deadline this month.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
And Imax aims to up the ante on that feeling with a fully immersive viewing experience supported by the largest screens along with the company's proprietary projection system and film cameras, Gelfond says.

— Kamaron McNair Juhohn Lee, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of feeling

Noun

More midlife women are logging on in search of everything from lasting love to a little lust.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2026
Like with Channel Orange, Ocean is narrating life from 10,000 feet up, able to communicate pain and lust and longing with a kind of precision that, if nothing else, should prove how singular the human spirit truly is.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of lust

Noun

Even with the intensity of Conor Gallagher leading the press in front of them, Chelsea were regularly carved open in defensive transition and conceded 63 goals in the Premier League in 2023-24.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Ruby Hobbs-Leffler felt things with an intensity that even a smart little girl with a big vocabulary couldn’t put into words.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of intensity

Browse Nearby Words

pass (into)

passion

passional

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Style

“Passion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passion. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of passion

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Synonyms of passion

noun

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Articles Related to passion

What kind of lover are you?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on passion

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Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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