intense
adjective
in·tense in-ˈten(t)s 
1
a
: existing in an extreme degree
The excitement was intense.
intense pain
b
: having or showing a characteristic in extreme degree
intense colors
2
: marked by or expressive of great zeal, energy, determination, or concentration
intense effort
3
a
: exhibiting strong feeling or earnestness of purpose
an intense student
b
: deeply felt
intensely adverb
intenseness noun
Synonyms
- 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He shielded his eyes from the intense flash of light. She has an intense dislike for her husband's friend. After many years of intense study, he received his medical degree. School reform is a subject of intense debate. The work requires intense concentration. He was an intense young man who was very determined to do well in school. See More
Recent Examples on the Web But the traffic is much less intense than at Sea-Tac, which is 30 miles south. 
Scott Mcmurren, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Sep. 2022 The intense heat of the southern sun can be harsher and burn plants to a crisp, especially if not watered on a daily basis. Danielle Ernest, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2022 Veterinarian Michael Leschnik from the University Clinic for Small Animals in Vienna, Austria, explains here what dogs, rabbits and the like need when exposed to intense heat. Stella Marie Hombach, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2022 By Wednesday afternoon, students said the main impact of the incident was the intense media attention. Alexander Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The murders sent shockwaves throughout the state and beyond, with intense attention from news outlets, podcasters, authors and filmmakers. Bob Strickley, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Naomi Judd’s death at her home in Tennessee on April 30, just one day before she and daughter Wynonna Judd were set to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, drew intense national media attention as to the cause of her death. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2022 The intense media attention is largely said to have been a major factor in their breakup. Cher, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Advanced beginner: Slightly more intense than beginner-level with heavier resistance levels and quicker cadence bursts. Michelle Konstantinovsky, SELF, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Scott Mcmurren, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Sep. 2022 The intense heat of the southern sun can be harsher and burn plants to a crisp, especially if not watered on a daily basis. Danielle Ernest, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2022 Veterinarian Michael Leschnik from the University Clinic for Small Animals in Vienna, Austria, explains here what dogs, rabbits and the like need when exposed to intense heat. Stella Marie Hombach, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2022 By Wednesday afternoon, students said the main impact of the incident was the intense media attention. Alexander Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The murders sent shockwaves throughout the state and beyond, with intense attention from news outlets, podcasters, authors and filmmakers. Bob Strickley, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Naomi Judd’s death at her home in Tennessee on April 30, just one day before she and daughter Wynonna Judd were set to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, drew intense national media attention as to the cause of her death. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2022 The intense media attention is largely said to have been a major factor in their breakup. Cher, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Advanced beginner: Slightly more intense than beginner-level with heavier resistance levels and quicker cadence bursts. Michelle Konstantinovsky, SELF, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin intensus, from past participle of intendere to stretch out
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing intense
Kids Definition
intense
adjective
in·tense in-ˈtens
1
: very great in degree : extreme
intense heat
2
: done with great energy, enthusiasm, or effort
intense concentration
3
: having very strong feelings
an intense person
Medical Definition
intense
adjective
in·tense in-ˈten(t)s
1
a
: existing in an extreme degree
intense anxiety
b
: extremely marked or pronounced
a neurodermatitis with intense itching and burning of the skin H. G. Armstrong
H. G. Armstrong c
: very large or considerable
intense radiation
2
a
: feeling deeply especially by nature or temperament
b
: deeply felt
intense emotions
intensely
adverb
1
as in intensively
with great effort or determination struggled intensely to master the language of her adopted country Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- intensively
- hard
- intently
- diligently
- determinedly
- resolutely
- arduously
- strenuously
- purposefully
- continuously
- assiduously
- doggedly
- vigorously
- mightily
- slavishly
- laboriously
- industriously
- actively
- sedulously
- energetically
- thoroughly
- unrelentingly
- vehemently
- unremittingly
- steadily
- seriously
- amain
- ardently
- feverishly
- dynamically
- hardly
- zealously
- briskly
- exhaustively
- busily
- animatedly
- spiritedly
- steadfastly
- attentively
- conscientiously
- painstakingly
- indefatigably
- earnestly
- unflaggingly
- meticulously
- tirelessly
- stubbornly
- willfully
- ploddingly
- untiringly
- unabatedly
- obstinately
- wearilessly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- casually
- sluggishly
- halfheartedly
- lazily
- languidly
- desultorily
- wearily
- listlessly
- indolently
- lackadaisically
- tiredly
- shiftlessly
- spiritlessly
2
as in extremely
to a great degree the senate race was intensely close Synonyms & Similar Words
- extremely
- incredibly
- very
- terribly
- highly
- too
- so
- badly
- severely
- damned
- damn
- desperately
- heavily
- really
- that
- fiercely
- seriously
- wildly
- most
- greatly
- exceptionally
- super
- especially
- much
- particularly
- far
- immensely
- jolly
- awfully
- fantastically
- supremely
- hugely
- full
- fabulously
- deeply
- exceedingly
- uncommonly
- vitally
- specially
- real
- thoroughly
- enormously
- achingly
- absolutely
- frightfully
- such
- utterly
- awful
- remarkably
- way
- totally
- mighty
- positively
- surpassingly
- completely
- eminently
- mortally
- vastly
- deadly
- filthy
- archly
- good and
- sore
- wicked
- extra
- majorly
- mightily
- exceeding
- blisteringly
- a lot
- entirely
- beastly
- sorely
- stinking
- passing
- wholly
- roaringly
- significantly
- colossally
- unco
- profoundly
- dang
- roaring
- rattling
- bone
- almighty
- cracking
- monstrous
- fully
- thumping
- whacking
- noticeably
- radically
- visibly
- corking
- ever
- spanking
- downright
- considerably
- extensively
- notably
- obviously
- substantially
- markedly
- right
- purely
- palpably
- excessively
- as all get-out
- abundantly
- astonishingly
- monumentally
- obscenely
- amazingly
- discernibly
- plentifully
- appreciably
- altogether
- plainly
- astronomically
- staggeringly
- monstrously
- flat-out
- overmuch
- grandly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- somewhat
- slightly
- little
- nominally
- minimally
- negligibly
- marginally
- just
- scarcely
- hardly
- barely
- meagerly
- scantily