1
as in intensive
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the intense cold of the polar regions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passionate
having or expressing great depth of feeling
an intense actor who favors edgy film roles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 intense
Under intense questioning by Brian Panish, the lead attorney for Nancy and Karim Iskander, the boys’ parents, Erickson denied Grossman ever admitted fault over four years of communicating with him through WhatsApp, in person and over the phone.
—
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The best time to mow your lawn is late afternoon, when the grass is dry and sunlight is less intense.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Ken Russell’s brutally intense movie received X-ratings, trims, and limited release its first time out in 1971 in the US.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
The survey found that Republicans and Democrats are uncomfortable living near a data center, but opposition is especially intense among Democrats.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for intense
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The best time to mow your lawn is late afternoon, when the grass is dry and sunlight is less intense.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Ken Russell’s brutally intense movie received X-ratings, trims, and limited release its first time out in 1971 in the US.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
The survey found that Republicans and Democrats are uncomfortable living near a data center, but opposition is especially intense among Democrats.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for intense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intense
Adjective
-
Rice University’s Kinder Institute study found that newcomer students in the kindergarten through fifth grade age range who are eligible for intensive newcomer English programs experience a measurable academic boost, lasting up to three years after eligibility.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
-
And it is currently made, almost everywhere in the world, through a process that is energy-intensive, waste-heavy, and engineered for an environment with almost no environmental regulation.—
Afdhel Aziz,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Set in Los Angeles, the film follows AJ, a shy teenager who loves skateboarding and drawing, and Kristen, a passionate surfer.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
Much of the film is set in and around a Parisian elder-care facility, and Hamaguchi guides us through its rooms and hallways, its meetings and rituals, with a patience and passionate granularity worthy of the late documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Elsewhere, Juventus was roundly jeered after losing 2-0 at home to fierce rivals Fiorentina, while Como held on for a 1-0 win over Parma to leave Cesc Fàbregas’ team still in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League just seven years after playing in Italy's fourth division.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
-
In the remote native villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, on the coast of the Bering Sea, Halong’s fierce flooding lifted homes off their foundations and carried them down a river with people still inside.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
State and federal taxes, seasonal demand and even more expensive fuel blends needed for warmer weather are all pieces of the pie.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
When the weather gets warm, nothing satisfies quite like cold noodles in iced broth.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The first wave of women’s-rights activists won suffrage for women, against ferocious and sometimes violent opposition.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
Featuring aching, ferocious performances from Emmy winners Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, Camp Miasma imagines the resurrection of a dormant slasher franchise.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
At Fox, Collier became known for his passional embrace of blockchain, NFTs and the whole Web3 space.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2022
Adjective
-
September 23 – October 22 A deeper feeling could interrupt your attempt to keep things light.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
Benjamín Echazarreta’s cinematography is alert to the workaday energy of the hotel as well as the eerie beauty of the setting, with its mix of fairy-tale wonder and bone-deep dread.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Passionate flamenco, a fervent soccer culture, and a 24,000-seat bullring are woven into Madrid’s rich cultural tapestry.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
5 May 2026
-
The race to build data centers and deploy more complex AI systems that can complete tasks with limited oversight, known as agentic AI, has ignited fervent demand for central processing units, or CPUs.—
Alexa LoMonaco,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intense. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
