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intense
/ɪnˈtɛns/
extreme in degree
The competition was so intense that both teams played their best.
The competition was very fierce, requiring maximum effort from both teams.
neutral
of extreme force, strength, or degree
She felt an intense pain in her back after lifting the heavy box.
She experienced very severe pain in her back.
The movie had an intense scene with loud noises and flashing lights.
The movie's scene was highly dramatic and overpowering.
Describes emotions, situations, or physical sensations that are very strong or extreme.
neutral
having strong or extreme emotions
He was intense about his work and often stayed late at the office.
He was deeply passionate and focused on his work.
Refers to someone who is very serious, passionate, or highly emotional.
Collocations
intense heatextremely high temperatureintense focuscomplete concentrationintense debateheated argumentintense workoutvery challenging exercise session
Pro Tip
Avoid overuse
While 'intense' is useful, it can sound dramatic if used too frequently. Use synonyms like 'strong', 'powerful', or 'severe' for variety.
Gold Rule
Context matters
'Intense' can describe emotions, physical sensations, or situations. Always ensure the context supports its meaning (e.g., 'intense heat' vs. 'intense anger').
Word Origin
From Latin *intensus* (stretched tight, strained), past participle of *intendere* (to stretch out, aim at), from *in-* (into) + *tendere* (to stretch). First recorded in English in the late 15th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used to describe both positive (e.g., intense concentration) and negative (e.g., intense pain) experiences. Avoid overusing in formal writing where 'strong' or 'extreme' might suffice.
Word Breakdown
in-
into, toward
prefix-tens-
stretched, strained
root-e
adjective-forming suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary