Intense-Intensive | Commonly Confused Words
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Intense vs. Intensive

Intense

/ɪnˈtens/
Very strong or extreme in degree

Examples:

To his intense dismay and dissatisfaction she exclaimed:The grief and the rage of the public would be intense.'Guess again,' said Caroline, with intense complacency.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Intensive

/ɪnˈtensɪv/
Involving a lot of effort or work over a short period of time

Examples:

The next day, the really intensive training began.The course was intensive but incredibly rewarding.She took an intensive care nursing program last year.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Intense is used to describe something that is extreme or of great strength or degree.
  • Intensive often refers to something that involves a lot of effort or energy over a short period of time.
  • Think of intense as describing the quality of an emotion or situation, whereas intensive describes the effort put into an activity.
  • Remember that intense can modify nouns associated with emotions, weather, or color, while intensive is often used to describe training or care.
  • If you are describing feelings, lights, or debates, its likely intense. For courses, care, and agriculture, choose intensive'.
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