Intensity — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /in-ˈten(t)-sə-tē/ in·ten·si·ty

Meaning & Definition of Intensity

Intensity (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being intense; especially, extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling
  2. the magnitude of a quantity (such as force or energy) per unit (as of area, charge, mass, or time)
  3. saturation

Intensity (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. depth of feeling

    "spoke with great intensity and eloquence on the need to combat racism"

    similar: ardency, ardor, emotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fire, heat, intenseness, passion, passionateness, vehemence, violence, warmth, white heat
    related: cathexis, emotionalism, emotionality, histrionics, mawkishness, melodrama, sappiness, sentimentality, eagerness, earnestness, excitement, gusto, keenness, zest, fanaticism, fever, hot-bloodedness, infatuation, mania, obsession, zeal, compassion, responsiveness, sentiment, sympathy, tenderness, torridity, torridness
    opposite: impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, insensibleness, insensitiveness, insensitivity
    near: aloofness, calmness, collectedness, composure, detachedness, dryness, phlegm, reserve, reservedness, reticence, taciturnity, apathy, indifference, stoicism, stoniness, unconcern, stiffness, woodenness, chilliness, coldness, coolness, frigidity, frigidness

  2. the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)

    "the intensity of the actor's performance had theatergoers on the edge of their seats"

    similar: aggressiveness, assertiveness, emphasis, fierceness, forcefulness, intenseness, vehemence, vigorousness, violence
    related: potency, power, strength, eloquence, ardency, ardor, fervency, fervidness, fervor, insistence, passion, warmth, stridency, vociferousness, absoluteness, clearness, directness, incision, incisiveness, plainness, straightforwardness, vividness
    opposite: feebleness, mildness, weakness
    near: ambiguity, equivocation, delicacy, lightness, subtlety

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Intensity

The most common words with a similar meaning to Intensity:

ardency, ardor, emotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fire, heat, intenseness, passion, passionateness, vehemence, violence, warmth, white heat, aggressiveness, assertiveness, emphasis, fierceness, forcefulness, vigorousness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Intensity

Words with the opposite meaning of Intensity:

impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, insensibleness, insensitiveness, insensitivity, feebleness, mildness, weakness

Related Words for Intensity

cathexis, emotionalism, emotionality, histrionics, mawkishness, melodrama, sappiness, sentimentality, eagerness, earnestness, excitement, gusto, keenness, zest, fanaticism, fever, hot-bloodedness, infatuation, mania, obsession, zeal, compassion, responsiveness, sentiment, sympathy, tenderness, torridity, torridness, potency, power

Near Antonyms of Intensity

aloofness, calmness, collectedness, composure, detachedness, dryness, phlegm, reserve, reservedness, reticence, taciturnity, apathy, indifference, stoicism, stoniness, unconcern, stiffness, woodenness, chilliness, coldness, coolness, frigidity, frigidness, ambiguity, equivocation, delicacy, lightness, subtlety

Word Forms of Intensity

Inflections: intensities

Origin & Etymology of Intensity

First known use: 1665

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Intensity

Words & Phrases Containing Intensity

high-intensity interval training

Frequently Asked Questions about Intensity

What does "Intensity" mean?

"Intensity" means the quality or state of being intense; especially, extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being intense; especially, extreme degree of strength, force, energy, or feeling. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Intensity"?

Other words for "Intensity" include ardency, ardor, emotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidness, fervor and fire. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Intensity" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Intensity"?

There are 65 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Intensity". Common alternatives include ardency, ardor, emotion, enthusiasm, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fire, heat and intenseness.

What is the opposite of "Intensity"?

Antonyms of "Intensity" include impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, insensibleness, insensitiveness, insensitivity, feebleness and mildness. Near antonyms include aloofness, calmness, collectedness and composure.

How do you use "Intensity" in a sentence?

Examples of "Intensity" in a sentence: "spoke with great intensity and eloquence on the need to combat racism"; "the intensity of the actor's performance had theatergoers on the edge of their seats".

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

"Intensity" is a noun.

Is "Intensity" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Intensity" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Intensity"?

"Intensity" is pronounced /in-ˈten(t)-sə-tē/ and divided into syllables as in·ten·si·ty.