Another Word for Love: 17 Synonyms with Examples
Love is a strong feeling of affection or enjoyment. Alternatives show whether you mean deep affection, strong liking or devotion to something.
As a verb: feel deep affection for
- adore
- cherish
- care for
- be devoted to
- treasure
- dote on
As a verb: like very much
- enjoy
- relish
- delight in
- be passionate about
- be mad about
As a noun: deep affection
- affection
- devotion
- fondness
- adoration
- warmth
- passion
Need a different word?Look up any word in the synonym finder →
How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- adore
- Loves very much, sometimes playfully.
- cherish
- Loves and protects something precious.
- be devoted to
- Loves with loyal commitment.
- relish
- Enjoys greatly, often a challenge or food.
- affection
- A gentler, warm liking.
- passion
- Intense love or enthusiasm.
Example sentences
- adore: The children adore their new puppy.
- cherish: She cherishes the letters her father wrote to her.
- be devoted to: He was devoted to his patients for forty years.
- relish: She relished the chance to lead the project.
- affection: He spoke of his old teacher with real affection.
- passion: Her passion for gardening began in childhood.
Opposite of love
- hate
- dislike
- loathe
- hatred
More from WordNet
Less common or more specialised words WordNet lists for other senses of “love”. Check the meaning before you use one.
verb: know, screw, fuck, jazz, hump, bed, bang
noun: beloved, dear, dearest
WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Used under the WordNet licence.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “love”?
The most useful alternatives are “adore”, “cherish”, “care for”, “be devoted to”, “treasure”. For the main sense (feel deep affection for), “adore” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “adore” and “cherish”?
adore: Loves very much, sometimes playfully. cherish: Loves and protects something precious.
What is the opposite of “love”?
Common antonyms are “hate”, “dislike”, “loathe”, “hatred”.