enthusiasm means an intensity of feeling; an excited interest or eagerness. It carries an Arena rating of 1700, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, enthusiasm ranks #2,387 of 17,052 for Most Storied Words, #2,691 of 17,052 for Most Satisfying to Say, #4,228 of 17,052 for Most Beautiful Words, #4,397 of 17,052 for Most Elegant Words.
enthusiasm is pronounced /ɪnˈθuziæzəm/.
Why “enthusiasm” is a great word
A fervent and eager enjoyment or interest in something. From Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός (enthousiasmós), from ἐν (en, "in") + θεός (theós, "god") + οὐσία (ousía, "essence"), literally "the god within" or "divine inspiration"; first attested in English c. 1600. Unlike apathy, which is a hollow absence of feeling, or ardor, which burns with a steady and often solemn fire, enthusiasm is the spark before the flame, bright and crackling with immediacy. It is the amateur astronomer's breath fogging the eyepiece at the first glimpse of Saturn's rings, the scent of paper and ink as a notebook fills in furious succession, or the unselfconscious roar that rises from a crowd—a brief, mortal glimpse of being filled with something greater than oneself.
Etymology
First attested from 1603, from Middle French enthousiasme, from Late Latin enthusiasmus, from Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός (enthousiasmós), from ἐν (en, “in”) + θεός (theós, “god”) + οὐσία (ousía, “essence”).
noun
- An intensity of feeling; an excited interest or eagerness.e.g.“Try to curb your enthusiasm.”
- Something in which one is keenly interested.e.g.“My main enthusiasm is attending and seeing the progress and interest of collectors, to meet old friends, and hopefully to make new friends.”
- Possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.e.g.“The intoxication that they sought was that of ‘enthusiasm’, of union with the god.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.