intensity

noun

in·​ten·​si·​ty in-ˈten(t)-sə-tē How to pronounce intensity (audio)
plural intensities
Synonyms of intensity
1
: the quality or state of being intense
especially : extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling
2
: the magnitude of a quantity (such as force or energy) per unit (as of area, charge, mass, or time)
3
: saturation sense 4a

Synonyms of intensity

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Examples of intensity in a Sentence

the intensity of the sun's rays the intensity of the argument The sun shone with great intensity.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That combination helped the Dream return to their identity and intensity for all four quarters. — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 14 July 2026 Microdramas are increasingly serving as an entry point for international viewers discovering Chinese content, with high emotional intensity and rapid pacing suited to mobile-first viewing habits, per iQIYI. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 July 2026 Few fixtures in the league carry more intensity than the Seattle-Portland series, with the clubs inheriting the Cascadia rivalry forged by the Sounders and Timbers in Major League Soccer decades before the NWSL’s founding in 2013. — ABC News, 12 July 2026 High-intensity running also dropped, while jogging and walking increased. — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for intensity

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intensity was in 1665

Phrases Containing intensity

Rhymes for intensity

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Browse Nearby Words

intensitometer
intensity
intensity modulation
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Cite this Entry

“Intensity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intensity. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

intensity

noun
in·​ten·​si·​ty in-ˈten(t)-sət-ē How to pronounce intensity (audio)
plural intensities
1
: the quality or state of being intense
especially : extreme strength, force, or feeling
2
: the degree or amount of a quality or condition
the intensity of an electric field

Medical Definition

intensity

noun
in·​ten·​si·​ty in-ˈten(t)-sət-ē How to pronounce intensity (audio)
plural intensities
1
: the quality or state of being intense
especially : extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling
2
: the magnitude of a quantity (as force or energy) per unit (as of surface, charge, mass, or time)
3
: saturation sense 4a

More from Merriam-Webster on intensity

Nglish: Translation of intensity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about intensity

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