intense

[in-tens] / ɪnˈtɛns /

ADJECTIVE

forceful, severe; passionate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acute bitter deep energetic excessive extraordinary extreme fierce great harsh heightened intensified intensive powerful profound protracted sharp strong violent vivid

WEAK

agonizing all-consuming ardent biting burning close concentrated consuming cutting diligent eager earnest exaggerated exceptional exquisite fanatical fervent fervid forcible full hard impassioned keen marked piercing pungent shrill stinging strained supreme undue vehement zealous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aboveboard agreeable bland blunt calm dull gentle ignorant indistinct kind lazy low mild moderate nice pale peaceful shallow slow soft stupid superficial unimportant unintelligent weak

WEAK

low-key

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The pressure on a wire lying 12,000 feet beneath the water’s surface was intense, its effects unknown.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

"If you were to sniff a bag of cocoa shells, you would be really struck by the intense chocolatey nature of it," says Andy Clayton, Fermtech's CEO.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

What’s slightly more vague is the extent Barker is willing to go to in conveying just how intense the terms of Bear’s wish really are.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

As an intense laser pulse travels through the waveguide, it expands into a broader range of colors.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

So instead I'd better move...Bobby’s years of playing intense speed games helped lead to his ability to instantly comprehend the relationships of the pieces on the board.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Vocabulary lists containing intense

Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items

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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4

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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone

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