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.

When they did occur, Sandel said they were "a little more intense, a little more aggressive".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

This week, Micah Maidenberg reports on the huge challenge that still lies ahead for the Artemis crew: navigating the intense heat of re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

And that building caution — and the more intense conflict-angst that followed — is captured in the chart of three-month rolling flows into money-market and cashlike ETFs provided by Ryan Detrick.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

During a powerful El Niño cycle in 1997-98, an intense string of storms caused flooding and debris flows across the state.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

The countdown hit one, and the air whooshed from my lungs as a sudden intense pressure encased my body.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

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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