torrid

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "torrid" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used as an adjective to mean "intensely hot or passionate". For example, you could say "Their torrid romance captured the attention of the entire town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm not exactly proud of these things, but there they are: my poshness is stamped on my forehead, which I pretty much rhyme with torrid, and so it's always seemed pointless to try to disguise it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many of Newman's songs are about torrid love affairs and fractured relationships.

The Guardian - Music

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics which helps compile the report, said: "Job growth is strong, but slowing from the torrid pace of recent months.

The Guardian - Business

Colin Calderwood has endured a torrid time since being appointed as manager; failure to defeat an Ayr team consisting largely of part-time players does not help his case.

The Guardian - Sport

He also pounced on the fact that the torrid story, one of literature's earliest sex and shopping novels, has a setting claimed by both the Geordie and French capitals.

The Guardian

A former advocate – the Scottish version of a barrister - Darling was an experienced Commons debater after nearly 30 years as an MP, and had withstood torrid encounters at the dispatch box as chancellor.

The Guardian

So to the quarter-finals, and the torrid "battle of Bern", against Brazil.

The Guardian

During what she described as a "torrid" 2011 state election campaign, McKay, the former member for Newcastle, was the target of unauthorised pamphlets warning voters she supported a container terminal in Mayfield that would see trucks rumble through the community's streets 24 hours a day.

The Guardian

Scenes include a steamy rendezvous between Clinton's stepfather Roger Clinton and Virginia, she wearing lingerie while singing about their torrid romance.

The Economist

THE government has begun a systematic campaign to defend the Big Society after a torrid few weeks of setbacks and dismal media coverage.

The Economist

If it suddenly "burped" up, the Earth could be in for a torrid time.In this section Swamp thing or monster of the deep?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "torrid" to vividly describe conditions of extreme heat or intense emotion in your writing, ensuring that the context aligns with the word's strong connotations.

Common error

Avoid using "torrid" in contexts where a milder adjective would suffice. Its intensity can be inappropriate for describing situations that are merely uncomfortable or slightly difficult.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "torrid" primarily functions to intensify the description of a noun, indicating extreme heat, passion, or difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "torrid" effectively conveys extreme conditions, whether describing scorching heat, intense emotions, or challenging circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, "torrid" is a versatile word that adds intensity to descriptions, but it should be used judiciously to avoid overuse or misapplication. Consider alternatives like "intense" or "passionate" depending on the intended nuance. With a source quality score of 93 and an expert rating of 4.6, "torrid" is a reliable choice for writers seeking to emphasize the severity or passion of a subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense

A more general term for high degree or strength. The shift here is toward describing something strong.

passionate

Focuses specifically on strong feelings of love or desire. The shift here is toward feelings only.

ardent

Similar to passionate, but with a nuance of enthusiasm. Here's the focus is on enthusiastic.

fiery

Implies a burning intensity, either literal or figurative. The change regards intensity.

fervent

Suggests a sincere and enthusiastic intensity. The transformation here regards to sincere enthusiasm.

scorching

Primarily used to describe intense heat. This alternative is more related to weather.

blistering

Similar to scorching, emphasizing the damaging effect of heat. The transformation here regards the damaging effects of weather or conditions.

tumultuous

Describes something marked by violent upheaval or disorder. The shift here is to chaos.

difficult

Indicates hardship or trouble. It is a general term that encompasses a range of challenges.

trying

Signifies something that is difficult to endure or testing one's patience. Here, change is from the intensity to the action of test.

FAQs

How to use "torrid" in a sentence?

You can use "torrid" to describe extremely hot weather, as in "The desert experienced a "torrid summer"". It can also describe intense emotions, such as "They shared a "torrid affair"".

What can I say instead of "torrid"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "intense", "passionate", or "difficult". The best choice depends on whether you're describing heat, emotions, or a challenging situation.

Which is correct, "torrid heat" or "intense heat"?

"Torrid heat" and "intense heat" are both correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Torrid" emphasizes the extremely hot and dry nature of the heat, while "intense heat" simply focuses on the high degree of heat.

What's the difference between "torrid" and "ardent"?

"Torrid" generally implies extreme heat or difficulty, while "ardent" typically refers to passionate or enthusiastic feelings. While both suggest intensity, they apply to different domains.