Intensely — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb /in-ˈten(t)s/ in·tense

Meaning & Definition of Intensely

Intensely (adjective)

  1. existing in an extreme degree
  2. having or showing a characteristic in extreme degree
  3. marked by or expressive of great zeal, energy, determination, or concentration

Intensely (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. with great effort or determination

    "struggled intensely to master the language of her adopted country"

    similar: amain, arduously, assiduously, determinedly, diligently, doggedly, hard, hardly, industriously, intensively, intently, laboriously, mightily, purposefully, resolutely, sedulously, slavishly, strenuously
    related: actively, animatedly, briskly, busily, dynamically, energetically, feverishly, spiritedly, vehemently, vigorously, zealously, continuously, ploddingly, steadfastly, steadily, unabatedly, unrelentingly, unremittingly, ardently, attentively, conscientiously, earnestly, exhaustively, meticulously, painstakingly, seriously, thoroughly, indefatigably, tirelessly, unflaggingly, untiringly, wearilessly, obstinately, stubbornly, willfully
    near: casually, desultorily, halfheartedly, indolently, lackadaisically, languidly, lazily, listlessly, shiftlessly, sluggishly, spiritlessly, tiredly, wearily

  2. to a great degree

    "the senate race was intensely close"

    similar: achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly, extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, far, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, jolly, majorly, mightily, mighty, monstrous (chiefly dialect), mortally, most, much, particularly, passing, rattling, real, really, right, roaring, roaringly, seriously, severely, so, sore, sorely, spanking, specially, stinking, such, super, supremely, surpassingly, terribly, that, thumping, too, unco, uncommonly, vastly, very, vitally, way, whacking, wicked, wildly, a lot, as all get-out, good and
    related: absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly, deeply, profoundly, exceptionally, notably, remarkably, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly, visibly, abundantly, plentifully, astronomically, grandly, monstrously, monumentally, excessively, obscenely, overmuch, amazingly, astonishingly, staggeringly
    opposite: little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat
    near: meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

Related Entry: Intense (adjective)

Intense is a different word from Intensely. The synonyms below are for intense, not for intensely.

  1. extreme in degree, power, or effect

    "the intense cold of the polar regions"

    similar: acute, almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent
    related: accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened, emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified, stressed, exhaustive, thorough, harsh, rigorous, severe
    opposite: light, moderate, soft
    near: feeble, weak, shallow, superficial, moderated, qualified, alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down), abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued

  2. having or expressing great depth of feeling

    "an intense actor who favors edgy film roles"

    similar: ardent, blazing, burning, charged, demonstrative, emotional, fervent, fervid, feverish, fiery, flaming, glowing, hot-blooded, impassioned, incandescent, passional, passionate, perfervid, red-hot, religious, superheated, torrid, vehement, warm, warm-blooded, on fire
    related: gushing, gushy, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, saccharine, sappy, schmaltzy, sentimental, sloppy, sugary, histrionic, melodramatic, enthusiastic, gung ho, keen, zealous, enamored, infatuated, obsessed, uninhibited, unreserved, unrestrained, frenzied, orgiastic, overemotional, overexcited, overheated
    opposite: cold, cool, dispassionate, emotionless, impassive, unemotional
    near: detached, dry, impersonal, objective, reserved, undemonstrative

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Intensely

The most common words with a similar meaning to Intensely:

Chiefly dialect: monstrous
amain, arduously, assiduously, determinedly, diligently, doggedly, hard, hardly, industriously, intensively, intently, laboriously, mightily, purposefully, resolutely, sedulously, slavishly, strenuously, achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Intensely

Words with the opposite meaning of Intensely:

little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat

Related Words for Intensely

actively, animatedly, briskly, busily, dynamically, energetically, feverishly, spiritedly, vehemently, vigorously, zealously, continuously, ploddingly, steadfastly, steadily, unabatedly, unrelentingly, unremittingly, ardently, attentively, conscientiously, earnestly, exhaustively, meticulously, painstakingly, thoroughly, indefatigably, tirelessly, unflaggingly, untiringly

Near Antonyms of Intensely

casually, desultorily, halfheartedly, indolently, lackadaisically, languidly, lazily, listlessly, shiftlessly, sluggishly, spiritlessly, tiredly, wearily, meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

Word Forms of Intensely

Derived words: intensely (adverb), intenseness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Intensely

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intensus, from past participle of intendere to stretch out

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Intensely

What does "Intensely" mean?

"Intensely" means existing in an extreme degree. As an an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: existing in an extreme degree. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Intensely"?

Other words for "Intensely" include amain, arduously, assiduously, determinedly, diligently, doggedly, hard and hardly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Intensely" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Intensely"?

There are 174 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Intensely". Common alternatives include amain, arduously, assiduously, determinedly, diligently, doggedly, hard, hardly, industriously and intensively.

What is the opposite of "Intensely"?

Antonyms of "Intensely" include little, negligibly, nominally, slightly and somewhat. Near antonyms include casually, desultorily, halfheartedly and indolently.

How do you use "Intensely" in a sentence?

Examples of "Intensely" in a sentence: "struggled intensely to master the language of her adopted country"; "the senate race was intensely close".

Is "Intensely" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Intensely" can be used as an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Intensely"?

"Intensely" is pronounced /in-ˈten(t)s/ and divided into syllables as in·tense.

What is the origin of the word "Intensely"?

"Intensely" comes from Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intensus, from past participle of intendere to stretch out. First known use: 15th century.