No single love synonym fits every feeling, so start with the five that do the most work: adore, cherish, affection, devotion and enjoy. Love covers a parent and child, two partners, a friendship, and a good pizza, and each needs a different word.
This guide sorts another word for love into verbs and nouns, romantic and everyday senses, and mild to intense. You will also find pet names, the antonyms, and tips for cards and essays. Close feelings appear on the passion, caring and feelings and emotions pages.
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adore, cherish, affection, devotionPart of speech
Verb and nounMost formal
devotion, ardor, hold dearMost casual
be crazy about, be into, have a crush onStrongest
worship, idolize, adorationAntonyms
hate, loathe, indifferenceWatch out
Fancy is British for a light romantic interest. In the US it mostly means elaborate.
Love synonym groups by kind of love
| Kind | Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Family and friends | cherish, care for, treasure | I treasure our Sunday calls. |
| Romance | be in love with, fall for, adore | He fell for her on the first day. |
| Things and hobbies | enjoy, relish, be keen on | She relishes a hard puzzle. |
| The feeling itself | affection, devotion, fondness | The dog showed real devotion. |
| A loved person | darling, sweetheart, partner | Goodnight, sweetheart. |
How strong is the feeling
The chip strip climbs from mild to intense. Like is pleasant but cool. Be fond of adds warmth and often suits old friends or places. Care for is quietly serious and can mean look after, too. Adore is warm and a little playful. Worship is extreme and can sound unhealthy if you mean a person, so save it for humor or faith.
For nouns, the same climb goes fondness, affection, devotion, adoration.
Another word for love in real lines
- I love my grandmother becomes I adore my grandmother.
- We love these memories becomes we cherish these memories.
- She loves gardening becomes she delights in gardening.
- His love for his team becomes his devotion to his team.
- They are in love becomes they are smitten with each other.
- I love this song becomes I am really into this song.
An anniversary card reads: "I love you and love our life together." A softer second verb gives it rhythm: "I love you, and I treasure the life we have built."
Pick by setting: cards, essays and casual talk
Cards and letters: cherish, treasure and hold dear sound sincere without being dramatic.
Essays: affection, attachment and devotion are clear and measured. In psychology writing, attachment has a specific meaning about bonds between people.
Chat: be crazy about, be obsessed with and be into are lively. The obsessed page shows when that word is playful and when it is not. For the joy that love brings, see happiness synonyms.
Words that sit near love but differ
Lust and desire describe physical wanting, not deep care, so they change the meaning. Infatuation is strong but short-lived and a bit foolish. Like is far milder. Kindness and compassion are about how you treat people, not how attached you feel. Liking can work as a noun: she has a liking for jazz.
Antonyms of love
Hate and loathe are the direct opposites; loathe is stronger. Detest is formal. Dislike is mild. Many people say the real opposite of love is indifference, which means you do not care either way.
- He loathes waking up early.
- She met the news with indifference.
Frequently asked questions
What is a deeper synonym for love?
Devotion and adoration go deeper than love in most contexts. Devotion suggests loyalty over time, while adoration suggests admiring warmth.
Is there a more elegant word for love?
Ardor, adoration and hold dear sound elevated. Ardor is literary and best kept for poems or speeches.
How can I say I love something without using love?
Try I really enjoy it, I am a big fan of it, I am keen on it or I delight in it. Choose by how strong your liking is.
What is the opposite of love?
Hate is the usual antonym. Loathing is stronger, dislike is softer, and indifference describes having no feeling at all.
Is cherish the same as love?
Cherish is close but focuses on valuing and protecting someone or something. You can cherish a memory, which sounds more natural than loving a memory.