✅ Passionate describes feeling particularly strongly, either in general or about a specific thing (a passionate argument in favor of pineapple on pizza).

✅ Ardent describes something characterized by intense feeling, or being intensely interested in or very passionate about something (an ardent fan of pop music).

✅ Passionate and ardent both describe something that demonstrates or shows strong emotions (a passionate defense; an ardent promise).

✅ Of the two, ardent is more old-fashioned, and passionate is more commonly used.

If you’re an ardent fan of words, you should check out these synonyms!

✅ Enthusiastic describes being full of excitement or feeling intense interest in something (She was enthusiastic about seeing her favorite actor in a new film).

✅ Rhapsodic describes being incredibly excited, or feeling a very powerful sense of interest and enthusiasm (He was rhapsodic about getting the concert tickets).

✅ Both enthusiastic and rhapsodic describe being excited and interested in something, especially when that excitement influences the way you behave.

✅ Rhapsodic describes a more extreme excitement than enthusiastic, and the word itself can sound formal or old-fashioned.

Feeling rhapsodic over these synonyms is a sign of being a true word-nerd (and we love word-nerds!).

✅ Optimistic and sanguine both describe people with cheerful, positive, and sunny dispositions.

✅ Optimistic describes being positive, seeing things in a positive light and expecting good outcomes (I was optimistic about the trip).

✅ Sanguine describes seeing things in such a positive light and being so cheerful that you seem naive or oblivious to reality (He’s so sanguine that it can get frustrating).

✅ Sanguine suggests a more extreme positivity than optimistic, and the word itself can sound formal, academic, or old-fashioned.

Describe a time you felt sanguine with the help of Grammar Coach.