smoldering passion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smoldering passion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong, intense, and often hidden or suppressed feeling of love or desire. Example: "Their relationship was filled with a smoldering passion that neither of them dared to acknowledge openly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Looks, rather than smoldering passion, was all his roles required, and all he provided.

The New York Times - Magazine

From the very first pages of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 book, Jane embodies virtues that might be off-putting if they were not so persuasive, and if her story were not such a marvelous welter of grim suffering and smoldering passion.

The New York Times

He also directed a mini-movie called "Remember Now," as an artistic meld of smoldering passion, the ennui of gilded youth touched with the essence of "La Dolce Vita".

The New York Times

Most of the tsoris is caused by the smoldering passion between Ignatz and his adopted sister Valerie (Ms. Ehle), who is really his cousin and who will eventually be his wife (and then, since Mr. Fiennes plays both their son and grandson, his mother and his grandmother).

The New York Times

This 38-year-old black professional financier and small-business owner has a smoldering passion for promoting Portland as one of the nation's most welcoming environments for entrepreneurs of color.

TechCrunch

Anne's smoldering passion (illustrated with images of discreet lovemaking) sets Thérèse ablaze, a metaphor that Mr. Miller gives a vigorous workout with cartons of cigarettes, extinguished matches and, finally, an apocalyptic conflagration.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Blues Suite" (1958), which opened the evening, is a dance of smoldering passions to songs that, as a program note declares, could be called hymns to the soul's "secular regions".

The New York Times

Late in life, Luchino Visconti, the poet of smoldering, suppressed passion among Italian aristocracy, planned a screen version of Proust's middle volume, "Sodom and Gommorah," but the work was never realized.

The New York Times

We all have secret passions, smoldering fires that need to be ignited by our own breath.

Huffington Post

That passion smoldered for years as he pursued a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and then a doctoral degree in molecular neurobiology and biophysics.

Science Magazine

In his most recent film, "Jane Eyre, Mr. Fassbenderr played an anguished, sideburned Mr. Rochester, a smoldering hunk of 19th-century passion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smoldering passion" to depict a powerful emotion that is not openly expressed, often due to situational constraints or internal conflict. This can add depth and complexity to character portrayals or descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "smoldering passion" in overly dramatic or clichéd scenarios, as it can come across as melodramatic. Instead, consider using it in contexts where the restraint and underlying intensity create a more nuanced effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smoldering passion" functions primarily as a noun phrase, with "smoldering" acting as a descriptive adjective that modifies the noun "passion". Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smoldering passion" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English that describes a strong, suppressed emotion, typically love or desire. Ludwig AI affirms its validity. While not exceedingly common, it appears more frequently in News & Media contexts to convey hidden or intense feelings. When employing this phrase, be mindful of potential clichés and aim for nuanced applications to maximize its impact. Alternatives such as "latent ardor" or "repressed desire" offer similar but subtly different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

latent ardor

Replaces 'smoldering' with 'latent' to emphasize hidden potential, and 'passion' with 'ardor' for a more intense connotation.

repressed desire

Focuses on the suppressed nature of the feeling, changing 'passion' to 'desire' for a more direct expression of longing.

subdued intensity

Highlights the controlled nature of the emotion, using 'intensity' to capture the strength of the feeling.

hidden fire

Employs 'hidden' to convey the concealed nature and 'fire' to represent the intense emotion.

underlying fervor

Substitutes 'smoldering' with 'underlying' to suggest a less visible presence, and 'passion' with 'fervor' for enthusiastic intensity.

veiled enthusiasm

Emphasizes the secretive aspect of the feeling, swapping 'passion' for 'enthusiasm' to denote strong excitement.

controlled intensity

Stresses the restraint placed on the emotion, using 'intensity' to show the power of the feeling.

muted yearning

Replaces the idea of passion with 'yearning', focusing on longing, and 'muted' emphasizing the quiet nature of the feeling.

pent-up emotion

Highlights the contained nature of the feeling, using 'emotion' as a broader term for passion.

restrained zeal

Focuses on the checked expression of the feeling, changing 'passion' to 'zeal' to indicate dedication or enthusiasm.

FAQs

How can I use "smoldering passion" in a sentence?

You can use "smoldering passion" to describe intense emotions that are suppressed or hidden. For example: "Their relationship was built on a foundation of "smoldering passion", carefully concealed from the outside world."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "smoldering passion"?

Alternatives include "repressed desire", "latent ardor", or "subdued intensity". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "smoldering passion" an overused phrase?

While not inherently overused, "smoldering passion" can become cliché if employed in predictable romantic contexts. Using it in unexpected scenarios or to describe non-romantic intensity can maintain its impact.

What's the difference between "smoldering passion" and "burning desire"?

"Smoldering passion" suggests a suppressed, controlled emotion, whereas "burning desire" implies a more overt and consuming feeling. The former hints at restraint, while the latter suggests an overwhelming urge.