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 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

"They allow us to test our understanding of how matter behaves in strong magnetic fields and under intense gravitational forces."

From Science Daily • 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

The artificial-intelligence buildout is driving intense demand for networking and servers, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise is reaping the rewards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

In an intense but calm voice, the assassin confided to Augustus, as though trying to persuade him, the strangest thing: “I’m mad. I’m mad!”

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

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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