Quick answer
Infatuation means an intense but often short-lived passion or foolish admiration. It is usually pronounced in-fach-oo-AY-shun, and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Infatuation
Infatuation means an intense but often short-lived passion or foolish admiration. It belongs to emotions and peculiar mind states and works best in feelings, moods, and those oddly specific mental states that plain vocabulary misses. It is still understandable today, but it usually sounds more vivid and deliberate than ordinary modern vocabulary.
At a glance
emotionsmind-stateexpressive
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, infatuation refers to an intense but often short-lived passion or foolish admiration. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Infatuation feels absurd because its repeated sounds give it a bounce or wobble that makes the word feel half descriptive and half sound effect.
Origin and history
Infatuation is generally traced to from Latin roots related to being made foolish. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Infatuation is uncommon today, but it still makes sense to modern readers because the tone and meaning come across quickly once you see it in context.
Example sentences
- The column dismissed the whole rumor as infatuation.
- In the novel, one infatuation is enough to derail the dinner party.
- She used infatuation in the essay because the plain modern word felt too bland.
- The teacher paused to explain infatuation before asking the class to use it in context.
- They kept repeating infatuation because the sound of it was almost as memorable as the meaning.
When should you use this word?
Use infatuation when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in feelings, moods, and those oddly specific mental states that plain vocabulary misses.
Similar words
obsession, crush, adoration, fascination
Opposite or contrasting words
indifference, detachment, clarity
Common questions
- What does infatuation mean? An intense but often short-lived passion or foolish admiration.
- How do you pronounce infatuation? It is commonly pronounced in-fach-oo-AY-shun.
- Is infatuation still used today? Infatuation is uncommon today, but it still makes sense to modern readers because the tone and meaning come across quickly once you see it in context.
- When should you use infatuation? Use infatuation when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in feelings, moods, and those oddly specific mental states that plain vocabulary misses.
- What words are similar to infatuation? Similar words include obsession, crush, adoration, and fascination.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.