Another word for love
The best other words for love are devotedness, enthusiastic regard, care for and enjoy.
- Most formal
- enthusiastic regard, devotion, attachment
- Strongest
- passion, devotion, adoration
- Casual
- have a soft spot for, fancy, be into
- Instead of “deeply in love”
- smitten, devoted, head-over-heels
Love /lʌv/ (noun, verb): to feel deep affection, strong attachment, or romantic attraction for someone or something, or to like something very much. In simple words: to care about someone or something very much. Below are 28 rated synonyms across 4 senses, plus 29 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
32 synonyms shown
Romantic affection · noun
deep romantic affection
Love for something · noun
great liking for an activity, thing, or idea
Care deeply for · verb
to care for someone very much or be emotionally attached
Like very much · verb
to enjoy or approve of something strongly
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- passion — emphasizes intense romantic feeling
- affection — warmer and less intense than love
- adoration — adds admiration and delight
The dashed ring marks “love” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for love in your sentence
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How to choose
Choose a synonym that matches both feeling and register: adore, cherish, and treasure sound warmer and more expressive, while care for, be attached to, and be fond of are more restrained. Avoid using passion or infatuation when you mean ordinary affection, and prefer more formal choices like devotion or cherish in writing that needs a polished tone.
Antonyms of love
- hate
- detest
- dislike
- repel
- aversion
- indifference
- apathy
- coldness
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| passion | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| affection | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| devotion | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| adoration | 4/5 | neutral | casual, creative |
| fondness | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| infatuation | 4/5 | neutral | academic, casual, creative |
| attachment | 2/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| devotedness | 3/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| liking | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| enthusiasm | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| zeal | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| appreciation | 2/5 | formal | academic, business, casual |
| enthusiastic regard | 3/5 | academic | academic |
| adore | 4/5 | neutral | casual, creative |
| cherish | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| treasure | 4/5 | neutral | casual, creative |
| care for | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| be devoted to | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| have a soft spot for | 2/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| hold dear | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| be attached to | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| like | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| enjoy | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| relish | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| savor | 3/5 | neutral | casual, creative |
| fancy | 2/5 | casual | casual |
| be into | 2/5 | casual | casual |
| be fond of | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
Instead of “very love”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| deeply in love | smitten, devoted, head-over-heels |
| madly in love | wildly, utterly, deeply |
| love dearly | cherish, treasure, adore |
More words related to love
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “love”.
- cherishment
- warmth
- tenderness
- loyalty
- care
- concern
- regard
- sympathy
- compassion
- endearment
- attraction
- desire
- romance
- sweethearting
- lovingness
- partiality
- predilection
- preference
- taste
- admiration
- respect
- affinity
- fervor
- crush
- lust
- amity
- friendliness
- kindness
- charity
Questions about synonyms for love
What is the most formal or academic alternative to love?
For a verb, "cherish" or "hold dear" is usually the most elevated choice, while "devotion" works well as a noun. In academic prose, writers often prefer more specific terms such as "attachment," "affection," or "commitment" depending on the context.
What is a stronger word than love?
"Adore" is often stronger in everyday language, and "cherish" or "treasure" can sound especially heartfelt. For romantic intensity, "passion" is stronger, but it can suggest desire rather than steady affection.
What is a milder word than love?
"Like," "be fond of," and "care for" are all milder than love. They work well when you want to show warmth without implying deep emotional or romantic attachment.
What is another word for love?
Common alternatives depend on the meaning. For romance, words like "affection," "devotion," and "adoration" can work; for liking something, "enjoy" or "appreciate" may fit better.
What is a simple way to say love?
In simple words, love means caring about someone or something a lot. You can also say "really care about" or "like very much," depending on the context.