intense

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'intense' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an intense or extreme emotion, feeling, or situation. Example: The pressure to perform in the final exam was intense.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The questioning was, even by the standards of the garrulous current court, unusually intense and pointed.

The New York Times

It was intense.

The New York Times

The propaganda flow in a warzone like Gaza is intense.

The Guardian - Opinion

Or is it the other way around: that the kind of people who make it to the top of this game are the kind of intense, driven individuals whose very self-obsession makes them more vulnerable to mental illness?

The Guardian - Sport

Speaking to journalists on his arrival at Vienna airport on Tuesday, Mohammad Javad Zarif said that after nine months of increasingly intense negotiations an agreement was still possible, but Tehran would not be to blame if the talks collapsed.

The Guardian

Understanding exactly how the combination of low blood glucose and high ketones prevents seizures has become the subject of intense research.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In New Hampshire, he faces at least four major candidates: Santorum, Ron Paul, who came a close third in Iowa, and Newt Gingrich, who trailed in fourth place and has an intense dislike of Romney, and Jon Huntsman, who did not compete in Iowa.

The Guardian

While it is easy to see why a book like this would receive such intense interest from economists, who are engineered to concern themselves with questions like these, it is, perhaps, more difficult to understand how Capital became a book that would top the summer reading lists of thousands of beach-bound, working class adults.

The Guardian - Money

Admittedly, my love of dinosaurs is a little more intense than is typical.

The Guardian - Opinion

The intense competition has been driving interest rates down to ever lower levels.

The Guardian - Money

Politicians in Northern Ireland will face intense pressure from LGBT rights campaigners to "catch up" with the rest of western Europe after the Irish Republic overwhelmingly backed same-sex marriage in a referendum.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotions or feelings, use "intense" to convey a strong degree of emotion, such as "intense joy" or "intense sadness".

Common error

While "intense" effectively conveys strong emotion or force, avoid using it repetitively. Opt for synonyms like "acute", "profound", or "fierce" to provide variety and maintain the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "intense" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a high degree of quality, feeling, or strength. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academic & Scientific

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intense" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that is of a very high degree. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the word is grammatically correct and widely used. It appears frequently in News & Media sources, indicating its neutral register, but its usage extends to Formal & Business and Scientific contexts as well. Ludwig's examples show that "intense" is effective in conveying strong emotions or extreme conditions. To enhance writing, it's important to avoid overuse and consider related phrases like ""extreme"", ""acute"", or ""fierce"" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extreme

Indicates the furthest point from the norm, similar to "intense" in conveying high degree.

acute

Highlights the sharpness or severity, akin to the piercing aspect of "intense".

fierce

Emphasizes the forcefulness or aggression, much like the forceful side of "intense".

profound

Stresses the depth or significance, reflecting the deep impact of something "intense".

deep

Like "profound", conveys the depth of feeling or involvement, similar to "intense".

severe

Points to the harshness or seriousness, akin to the grave nature of something "intense".

heightened

Indicates an increase in level or degree, similar to the amplified state of something "intense".

concentrated

Highlights the focus or density, similar to the focused nature of something "intense".

vigorous

Emphasizes the energy or force, like the forceful action implied by "intense".

passionate

Conveys strong emotion or enthusiasm, much like the emotional aspect of "intense".

FAQs

How can I use "intense" in a sentence?

"Intense" can be used to describe strong emotions, high levels of effort, or extreme conditions. For example, "The competition was intense", "She felt intense joy", or "The heat was intense".

What are some synonyms for "intense"?

Depending on the context, you could use synonyms like "extreme", "acute", "fierce", "profound", or "severe".

Is it correct to say "intensely" instead of "intense"?

Yes, but the usage differs. "Intense" is an adjective that describes a noun (e.g., "intense pressure"), while "intensely" is an adverb that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., "She studied intensely").

What is the difference between "intense" and "intensive"?

"Intense" describes something that is of a very high degree or strength, while "intensive" describes something that involves great concentration or is focused on a particular area. For example, "intense heat" versus "intensive care".