50 Synonyms of ‘Infatuated’: Definitions, Usage, and Examples

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Expanding your vocabulary is one of the most effective ways to enhance your English communication skills. Synonyms—words with similar or nearly identical meanings—allow speakers and writers to express subtle shades of meaning and to avoid repetition. The word infatuated is a prime example of a term with rich emotional nuance, often used to describe an intense, sometimes irrational, admiration or attraction.

Understanding the synonyms of infatuated is vital not just for variety, but for precision. Whether you’re crafting a romantic poem, writing a character-driven story, conversing about a new hobby, or analyzing relationships academically, choosing the right synonym can help you convey exactly the right level of intensity and emotional shade. Each synonym carries its own connotative weight, register, and context of use.

This comprehensive guide aims to:

  • Define and compare the most common and nuanced synonyms of infatuated.
  • Provide detailed explanations, usage rules, and plenty of examples.
  • Offer practical exercises and tables for mastery.

Targeted at intermediate to advanced English learners, teachers, writers, and anyone seeking to deepen their expressive range, this article will help you master English adjectives describing intense attraction or admiration.

Table of Contents

3. Definition Section

3.1. What Does “Infatuated” Mean?

Infatuated describes a state of intense but often short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something, usually to the point of irrationality. It is commonly used to express overwhelming attraction, especially romantic, but can also apply to objects or ideas.

  • Oxford English Dictionary: “Possessed with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone.”
  • Merriam-Webster: “Filled with or marked by a foolish or extravagant love or admiration.”
  • Cambridge Dictionary: “Having a very strong but not usually lasting feeling of love or attraction for someone or something.”

Etymology: From Latin infatuatus, past participle of infatuare “to make foolish, make a fool of,” from in- “in, into” + fatuus “foolish.” Over time, the meaning shifted from “made foolish” to “foolishly in love or obsessed.”

Connotation: Infatuated typically implies a lack of reason or sound judgment, suggesting that the feeling may be superficial, intense, and fleeting.

Table 1: Definition Comparisons
Source Definition of “Infatuated” Notes/Highlights
Oxford Possessed with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone. Focus on intensity and brevity.
Merriam-Webster Filled with or marked by a foolish or extravagant love or admiration. Highlights foolishness or extravagance.
Cambridge Having a very strong but not usually lasting feeling of love or attraction for someone or something. Emphasizes transience and range of targets.

3.2. Grammatical Classification

Infatuated is primarily an adjective. It is often formed from the past participle of the verb infatuate. It can function as:

  • Attributive adjective: “his infatuated fans”
  • Predicative adjective: “She is infatuated with him.”

Common collocations: infatuated with, infatuated by, deeply infatuated.

3.3. Function in Sentences

The word describes emotional states or attitudes, often focusing on intense attraction or admiration. While related to in love or enchanted, infatuated suggests irrationality or fleeting passion.

  • Formal contexts: “The researcher became infatuated with his subject.”
  • Informal contexts: “I’m totally infatuated with this band!”
  • Literary contexts: “He was infatuated, his senses clouded by her beauty.”

3.4. Usage Contexts

  • Romantic: “She is infatuated with her new boyfriend.”
  • Non-romantic: “He is infatuated with vintage cars.”
  • Ideas/Objects: “They are infatuated with the idea of living abroad.”

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. Morphology and Word Formation

Infatuated is a simple adjective, derived from the verb infatuate + -ed. Related forms include:

  • Noun: infatuation (“His infatuation was obvious.”)
  • Adverb: infatuatedly (rare; “She gazed infatuatedly at him.”)

4.2. Collocations and Patterns

Key collocations:

  • be infatuated with [sb/sth]
  • become infatuated by [sb/sth]
  • deeply/hopelessly infatuated

Patterns: Most commonly used in the passive or with linking verbs.

Table 2: Collocations and Example Structures
Pattern Example Sentence Notes
be infatuated with [sb] She is infatuated with her boss. Used in romantic context
become infatuated by [sb/sth] He became infatuated by her smile. Slightly more formal
deeply infatuated with [sb] He is deeply infatuated with her talent. Describes strong intensity
infatuated over [sth] She was infatuated over the new gadget. Less common, informal

4.3. Intensity and Register

Infatuated is generally stronger than smitten or taken, but may be milder than obsessed or besotted. Its register is usually neutral, but can lean toward formal or literary.

4.4. Positive, Negative, and Neutral Connotations

– Negative: Implies irrationality or lack of judgment.
– Neutral: Simply describes strong attraction.
– Positive: Rare, but can imply passionate enthusiasm.

5. Types or Categories

5.1. Synonyms Based on Intensity

  • Mild: smitten, taken, charmed, fond
  • Moderate: enamored, captivated, entranced
  • Strong/Overwhelming: besotted, obsessed, consumed, crazy about

5.2. Romantic vs. Non-Romantic Synonyms

  • Romantic: lovestruck, starry-eyed, head over heels, enamored
  • Non-romantic: fascinated, enthralled, absorbed, engrossed

5.3. Formality Levels

  • Formal: enamored, enamoured (UK), captivated
  • Neutral: smitten, taken, charmed
  • Informal/Slang: crushing (on), hung up on, crazy about, gone on
Table 3: Categorization of Synonyms
Synonym Intensity Romantic/Non-Romantic Formality Level
Smitten Mild Romantic Neutral
Besotted Strong Romantic Neutral/Informal
Enamored Moderate Both Formal
Captivated Moderate Both Formal
Crushing (on) Mild-Moderate Romantic Informal
Obsessed Strong Both Neutral
Fascinated Moderate Non-Romantic Neutral
Head over heels Strong Romantic Informal

6. Examples Section

6.1. Basic Example Sentences

10 Example Sentences with “Infatuated”:

  1. She is infatuated with her new neighbor.
  2. He became infatuated by her intelligence.
  3. They are infatuated with the idea of traveling the world.
  4. As a teenager, I was infatuated with pop stars.
  5. He was completely infatuated, ignoring all her flaws.
  6. Her infatuated gaze was impossible to ignore.
  7. We were infatuated with the city’s vibrant culture.
  8. She acted infatuatedly in his presence.
  9. The fans were infatuated with the celebrity’s every move.
  10. He is infatuated with the latest technology trends.

6.2. Examples by Synonym

Table 4: Example Sentences by Synonym
Synonym Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Smitten He is smitten with his coworker. She was smitten by his sense of humor. The puppy was smitten with its new owner.
Enamored She is enamored of classic literature. He is deeply enamored with his partner. Tourists are often enamored with the city’s charm.
Besotted He was besotted with her beauty. She became besotted by his kindness. He is besotted with his newborn daughter.
Captivated He was captivated by her performance. The audience was captivated by the magician. She is captivated with the idea of adventure.
Entranced The child was entranced by the fireworks. She sat, entranced by his storytelling. They watched the dancer, entranced.
Crushing (on) He’s crushing on his classmate. She admitted to crushing on the lead singer. Are you crushing on anyone right now?
Obsessed He is obsessed with vintage cars. She became obsessed by the TV series. They are obsessed with fitness.
Fascinated She is fascinated by ancient history. The boy was fascinated with insects. He is fascinated by new technology.
Charmed She was charmed by his wit. The guests were charmed by the host. He is charmed with her spontaneity.
Head over heels She is head over heels for him. He fell head over heels in love. They are head over heels about each other.

6.3. Comparative Examples

  • Infatuated: “She is infatuated with her teacher.”
    Smitten: “She is smitten with her teacher.”
    Note: “Smitten” suggests a lighter, possibly more innocent feeling than “infatuated.”
  • Infatuated: “He became infatuated by the new video game.”
    Obsessed: “He became obsessed with the new video game.”
    Note: “Obsessed” is more intense and can imply unhealthy fixation.
  • Infatuated: “They are infatuated with the new trend.”
    Fascinated: “They are fascinated by the new trend.”
    Note: “Fascinated” is less emotional, more neutral.

6.4. Examples in Different Registers

  • Formal: “He remains enamored of the Renaissance aesthetic.”
  • Informal: “I’m totally crushing on that actor!”
  • Literary: “Besotted by her laughter, he lost all sense of time.”
  • Conversational: “He’s really into her lately.”

6.5. Examples by Context

Table 5: Contextual Example Pairs
Context Infatuated Example Synonym Example (with synonym)
Romantic She is infatuated with her classmate. She is smitten with her classmate.
Hobbies He is infatuated with photography. He is fascinated by photography.
Professional She became infatuated with the idea of entrepreneurship. She became captivated by the idea of entrepreneurship.
Platonic He is infatuated with his mentor’s wisdom. He is enthralled by his mentor’s wisdom.
Objects They were infatuated with the latest smartphone. They were obsessed with the latest smartphone.

7. Usage Rules

7.1. When to Use Each Synonym

  • Romantic contexts: smitten, enamored, lovestruck, head over heels
  • Intellectual or hobby admiration: fascinated, captivated, engrossed
  • Intense, possibly unhealthy feelings: besotted, obsessed
  • Casual, colloquial situations: crushing (on), hung up on

7.2. Grammatical Structures

  • Infatuated: “with,” “by” (e.g., “infatuated with her”)
  • Smitten: “with,” “by” (“smitten with/by her”)
  • Enamored: “of,” “with” (AmE: “enamored with”; BrE: “enamored of”)
  • Obsessed: “with,” “by” (“obsessed with fitness”)
  • Fascinated: “by,” “with” (“fascinated by history”)
  • Crushing: “on” (“crushing on his friend”)

7.3. Register and Tone

  • Formal writing: Use “enamored,” “captivated,” “enthralled.”
  • Informal speech: Use “crushing (on),” “hung up on,” “head over heels.”
  • Neutral: “Smitten,” “charmed.”

7.4. Frequency and Modern Usage

Some synonyms, like obsessed and crushing, are common in modern English, especially in spoken language and social media. Others, like enamored or besotted, are more literary or formal.

7.5. Exceptions and Special Cases

  • Besotted is rarely used outside romantic or intense admiration contexts.
  • Enamored can refer to admiration for objects or ideas, not just people.
  • Crushing (on) is almost exclusively used for romantic attraction, especially among young people.
Table 6: Usage Rules Summary
Synonym Prepositions Used Typical Context Register Frequency
Enamored of, with Romantic, Admiration Formal Common
Besotted with Romantic Neutral Less common
Smitten with, by Romantic Neutral Common
Crushing (on) on Romantic (informal) Informal Very common
Obsessed with, by Romantic, Hobbies Neutral Very common
Fascinated by, with Non-romantic Neutral Very common

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Confusing Synonyms with Different Meanings

Confusing obsessed with infatuated can cause miscommunication, especially if the intensity is wrong for the context.

8.2. Incorrect Collocation

Using the wrong preposition is a common error:

  • Incorrect: “She is infatuated of him.”
  • Correct: “She is infatuated with him.”

8.3. Register Mismatch

Using informal synonyms like “crushing on” in formal writing is inappropriate.

8.4. Overuse or Redundancy

Avoid repeating synonyms in the same sentence or paragraph: “He was infatuated and obsessed and besotted with her.”

8.5. Incorrect Intensity

Using a term that is too strong or too mild for the context can change the meaning: “He is besotted with her (when only mildly interested).”

Table 7: Common Errors and Corrections
Incorrect Usage Correction Explanation
She is infatuated of him. She is infatuated with him. Wrong preposition.
He is obsessed with her beauty (when only mildly interested). He is intrigued by her beauty. “Obsessed” is too strong here.
I’m crushing her. I’m crushing on her. Missing correct preposition.
He is enamored by classical music. (BrE) He is enamored of classical music. British English prefers “of.”
He is besotted of his wife. He is besotted with his wife. Wrong preposition.

9. Practice Exercises

Table 8: Exercise Overview
Exercise Type Number of Items Skill Targeted
Fill-in-the-Blank 10 Contextual usage
Error Correction 10 Error identification
Identification 8 Recognition
Construction 8 Production
Matching 10 Definition/context

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank

  1. He is __________ with his new car, spending hours cleaning it. (fascinated/besotted)
  2. She has been __________ on her neighbor for months. (crushing)
  3. The audience was __________ by the performance. (captivated)
  4. He is __________ with the idea of moving to Paris. (infatuated)
  5. They were __________ by the magician’s tricks. (entranced)
  6. She is __________ with her best friend. (smitten)
  7. He is __________ of old jazz music. (enamored)
  8. She is __________ with her fitness routine. (obsessed)
  9. He is __________ with his professor’s wit. (charmed)
  10. She is __________ over heels in love. (head)

9.2. Error Correction

  1. He is infatuated of her smile.
  2. She is besotted by her cat. (BrE)
  3. They are obsessed on video games.
  4. She’s crushing her classmate.
  5. He is smitten of poetry.
  6. He is enchanted by with her.
  7. She is head over heel for him.
  8. I am captivated on the story.
  9. He is enamored by art. (BrE)
  10. She is infatuated by with the idea.

9.3. Synonym Identification

  1. She’s been smitten with him since high school.
  2. He is obsessed with his phone.
  3. They are captivated by the landscape.
  4. She is crushing on her coworker.
  5. He is entranced by classical music.
  6. She is enamored of French cuisine.
  7. He is besotted with his girlfriend.
  8. The child was fascinated by the fireworks.

9.4. Sentence Construction

Use each synonym in your own sentence:

  1. Enamored
  2. Smitten
  3. Captivated
  4. Besotted
  5. Entranced
  6. Obsessed
  7. Fascinated
  8. Crushing (on)

9.5. Matching Exercise

Match the synonym to its definition/context:

  1. Smitten
  2. Obsessed
  3. Captivated
  4. Crushing (on)
  5. Enamored
  6. Besotted
  7. Fascinated
  8. Charmed
  9. Head over heels
  10. Entranced
  • a. Extremely absorbed or controlled by something
  • b. Mildly but notably attracted, often romantically
  • c. Deeply attracted or in love, often formal
  • d. Irresistibly attracted, often in an admiring way
  • e. Informal term for having a romantic interest
  • f. Under a spell, completely absorbed (often by beauty or music)
  • g. Strong, sometimes foolish romantic attachment
  • h. Thrilled or delighted by someone’s personality
  • i. Overwhelmingly in love, to the point of irrationality
  • j. Spellbound, unable to look away

9.6. Answers and Explanations

Fill-in-the-Blank Answers:

  1. besotted
  2. crushing
  3. captivated
  4. infatuated
  5. entranced
  6. smitten
  7. enamored
  8. obsessed
  9. charmed
  10. head

Error Correction Answers:

  1. He is infatuated with her smile.
  2. She is besotted with her cat.
  3. They are obsessed with video games.
  4. She’s crushing on her classmate.
  5. He is smitten with poetry.
  6. He is enchanted by her.
  7. She is head over heels for him.
  8. I am captivated by the story.
  9. He is enamored of art.
  10. She is infatuated with the idea.

Identification Answers:

  1. Smitten – Light romantic attraction.
  2. Obsessed – Overwhelming attachment.
  3. Captivated – Strong interest or admiration.
  4. Crushing (on) – Informal romantic interest.
  5. Entranced – Spellbound by something.
  6. Enamored – Deep admiration or love.
  7. Besotted – Foolishly or intensely in love.
  8. Fascinated – Deeply interested (non-romantic).

Matching Answers:

  1. b
  2. a
  3. d
  4. e
  5. c
  6. i
  7. g
  8. h
  9. j
  10. f

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. Synonym Nuances in Literature

Writers use synonyms of “infatuated” to set mood, reveal character, and manage tone. For example:

Table 9: Literary Examples and Analysis
Author/Work Sentence/Excerpt Synonym Used Effect/Analysis
Shakespeare “…besotted with youthful fancy…” Besotted Dramatic, intense, suggests irrationality
Jane Austen “She was quite smitten by his charm.” Smitten Playful, light, romantic
Modern Author “…utterly smitten by her charm…” Smitten Gentle, affectionate
Contemporary Novel “He was obsessed with the idea of adventure.” Obsessed Modern, intense, bordering on unhealthy

10.2. Register Shifts and Code-Switching

  • In formal settings: “He was enamored of her intellect.”
  • Among friends: “She’s totally crushing on him.”
  • Writers often shift register to match audience and mood.

10.3. Translation Issues

  • Many languages have only one word for the range of meanings covered by “infatuated” and its synonyms.
  • Translators must consider intensity and connotation; for example, “enamorado” in Spanish covers both “enamored” and “infatuated.”

10.4. Synonyms in Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

  • Head over heels (in love)
  • Carried away (by emotion)
  • Have a crush on
  • Fall for someone

10.5. Historical Shifts

  • Earlier usage of “infatuated” emphasized foolishness; more recently, it’s often romantic or enthusiastic.
  • Some synonyms (like “besotted”) were once negative, but are now sometimes playful or affectionate.

11. FAQ Section

  1. What is the difference between “infatuated,” “in love,” and “obsessed”?
    “Infatuated” describes intense, often irrational attraction, usually short-lived. “In love” is deeper, more enduring, and more balanced. “Obsessed” implies an unhealthy, overwhelming fixation, not always romantic.
  2. Can “infatuated” be used in non-romantic contexts?
    Yes, it can describe strong attraction to objects, ideas, or hobbies, not just people.
  3. Which synonym is most formal? Which is most informal?
    “Enamored” and “captivated” are formal; “crushing on,” “hung up on,” and “head over heels” are informal.
  4. How do I know which synonym to use in writing?
    Consider context (romantic vs. non-romantic), intensity (mild or strong), and register (formal or informal).
  5. Is “infatuated” always a negative word?
    Not always. It can be neutral or even mildly positive, but often implies irrationality.
  6. Are there any regional preferences for certain synonyms?
    Yes. “Enamored of” is common in British English; “enamored with” in American English. “Crushing” is more common in the US.
  7. Can I use synonyms of “infatuated” to describe objects or ideas?
    Yes. “Fascinated,” “captivated,” and “obsessed” are especially common for objects or ideas.
  8. What are typical prepositions used with each synonym?
    “Infatuated with/by,” “smitten with/by,” “enamored of/with,” “obsessed with/by,” “crushing on,” “fascinated by/with.”
  9. Are “crushing” and “smitten” interchangeable?
    Sometimes, but “crushing” is more informal, often used for teens or young adults; “smitten” is neutral and can apply at any age.
  10. Is it possible to be “infatuated” with more than one thing at a time?
    Yes, you can be infatuated with multiple people, objects, or ideas.
  11. How can I avoid sounding repetitive when describing strong admiration?
    Use a variety of synonyms and idioms, and adjust intensity and register to context.
  12. Do any synonyms of “infatuated” have different meanings in American vs. British English?
    Yes. “Enamored of” (BrE) vs. “enamored with” (AmE); “besotted” is more common in BrE.

12. Conclusion

The English language offers a wealth of synonyms for infatuated, each with its own nuance, intensity, and register. Mastering these words allows you to express admiration, attraction, or fascination with precision and variety. By choosing the right synonym for each context—whether romantic, platonic, or professional—you can communicate your feelings more accurately and richly.

Key points to remember:

  • Consider context, intensity, and formality when choosing a synonym.
  • Be mindful of common errors, especially with prepositions and register.
  • Practice using new synonyms in your writing and speech to build comfort and fluency.

To continue growing your expressive power, explore more emotional vocabulary and observe how skilled writers and speakers use these words. Practice regularly with the exercises above, and soon you’ll be able to describe admiration and attraction in English with both subtlety and flair.

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