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 fighting is less intense than before, but persistent enough to leave all three arenas in an uneasy limbo between war and peace.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

The mayor of Newark has imposed a curfew around an immigration detention center in New Jersey after a series of intense clashes between protesters and police.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Many Western brands have been keen to gain a foothold in China, but face intense competition from local manufacturers offering cheaper goods.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

An intense series of meetings produced a fragile agreement that Hezbollah would stop attacks on Israel and Israel wouldn’t assault Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, though fighting continued elsewhere Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

She accused the doctors’ intense skepticism of creating an atmosphere hostile to spirit communication.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Vocabulary lists containing intense

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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone

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