Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for love. Search instead for lovem.
Definitions

love

[luhv] / lʌv /
NOUN
adoration; very strong liking
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affection appreciation devotion emotion fondness friendship infatuation lust passion respect tenderness yearning
STRONG
adulation allegiance amity amorousness amour ardor attachment case cherishing crush delight devotedness enchantment enjoyment fervor fidelity flame hankering idolatry inclination involvement like partiality piety rapture regard relish sentiment weakness worship zeal
WEAK
ardency mad for soft spot
Antonyms
STRONGEST
animosity dislike enmity hate hatred ill will indifference neglect
STRONG
apathy coolness disloyalty misery sorrow treachery unhappiness
NOUN
person who is loved by another
Synonyms
STRONGEST
lover passion
STRONG
Romeo admirer angel beau beloved boyfriend darling dear dearest flame girlfriend honey inamorata inamorato paramour spark suitor swain sweet sweetheart truelove valentine
WEAK
Juliet courter dear one loved one
VERB
adore, like very much
Synonyms
STRONGEST
admire care for cherish choose go for prefer prize treasure worship
STRONG
adulate canonize deify esteem exalt fancy glorify idolize venerate
WEAK
be attached to be captivated by be crazy about be enamored of be enchanted by be fascinated with be fond of be in love with delight in dote on fall for gone on have affection for have it bad hold dear hold high long for lose one's heart to put on pedestal think the world of thrive with wild for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
despise dislike hate not care
STRONG
castigate condemn criticize debase degrade humiliate lower mock
WEAK
abstain scorn
VERB
have sexual relations
Synonyms
STRONGEST
embrace feel kiss
STRONG
caress clasp cling cosset court cuddle fondle hold hug lick neck pet press shine soothe stroke tryst woo
WEAK
draw close look tenderly make love take into one's arms
Antonyms
STRONG
ignore let go push away release
WEAK
abstain

Usage

What are other ways to say love?

Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, or romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for love?
Where do we begin? Love is often classified and categorized in terms of what type of relationship is being discussed, such as with terms like romantic love and platonic love, or with fancier words like eros or agape. People who love each other romantically are said to be in love. Instantaneous love is called love at first sight. Love is often described in terms of how serious or deep it is, as in terms like true love and unconditional love, or whether it’s reciprocated, as in unrequited love. Synonyms for love that can imply varying levels of intensity or intimacy include fondness, affection, devotion, and adoration. Love is also used as a noun in the sense of a person you love or have loved romantically, as in She was my first love or It’s a story of two loves reunited. The word lover is sometimes used in the same way, but this typically implies a sexual relationship. The word love is also often used in the context of sex in euphemisms like make love. In more general contexts, we call the people we love loved ones. You might call someone my love as a term of endearment, much like my dear or my darling. Someone who is well loved is often described as beloved. As a verb, there are a few synonyms that are sometimes used for love, such as adore, admire, cherish, and even treasure. But many words don’t really capture the fullness and depth of what love can mean. For that, we usually look to the poets. Among the wisest said that Love is a battlefield. Others have said that Love is all you need (all you need is love). If you’ve been to a lot of weddings, you’ve heard that love is patient, love is kind—love never fails. Shakespeare didn’t say that Love is a many splendored thing, but he did say that Love sought is good, but given unsought is better. Love is a lot of things. Love is a four-letter word. LOVE is a sculpture in Philadelphia (the city of brotherly love—not to be confused with the other City of Love). In tennis, love is nothing. In life, love is everything. Some people see love as a feeling, an emotion. Others see it as an action. In this sense, perhaps the closest synonym for love is work. That’s what’s meant when it’s said that Love is a verb—love is a doing word. Sometimes, there’s no other word for it, no better way to say it: love is love.
What is a stronger word for love?
Synonyms for love tend to capture only some aspects or elements of love. The verb adore means to feel intense love for someone—and adoration can be mutual. Still, despite how common the word is, and how easily it gets tossed around, love is often the strongest word you can use. I love you may be a set phrase, but there really is no equal for it. Perhaps the strongest way to use the word love is not just to say it, but to prove you mean it by showing it. Of course, love is also commonly used as a way of saying you really like something, as in I love your shoes! In this case, love is the stronger word. Perhaps an even stronger way to say this is by avoiding a love/like construction altogether. For example, instead of saying I love your shoes, you could say Your shoes are fabulous! or Your shoes are EVERYTHING! or however you want to express how amazing they are.

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.

Or as Becky puts it: “That’s love, isn’t it? Anything that matters carries the potential for hurt.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

"It was the measure of Craig that it never diminished his love of sport and the Olympic movement in particular."

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

“We look for some things that we love, and Mario really holds a special place in so many generations’ hearts, from the first Nintendo to kids that grew up and played it on their Wii.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

In Deuteronomy 10:19, the command is explicit: “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

“Don’t worry about educating, being funny, looking deadly . . . none of it. Just enjoy yourself. Do the things you love, with people you love.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.