What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Motivated vs Passionate - What's the difference?

motivated | passionate |

As verbs the difference between motivated and passionate

is that motivated is past tense of motivate while passionate is to fill with passion, or with another given emotion.

As adjectives the difference between motivated and passionate

is that motivated is enthusiastic, especially about striving toward a goal while passionate is given to strong feeling, sometimes romantic and/or sexual.

As a noun passionate is

a passionate individual.

motivated

English

Verb

(head)
  • (motivate)
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Enthusiastic, especially about striving toward a goal.
  • We're looking for a highly motivated individual who will fit into our fast-paced corporate culture.
  • * 2001 , Norman E. Wallen, Jack R. Fraenkel, Educational Research: A Guide to the Process , page 177,
  • It seems reasonable to assume that academically able students are more motivated' toward academic activities than those less able, and that students from higher socioeconomic levels are more ' motivated toward school than those from lower socioeconomic levels.
  • * 2009 , J. Dan Rothwell, In Mixed Company: Communicating in Small Groups and Teams , page 373,
  • In every instance, she has expressed enormous frustration with social loafers—virtual group members whose lackluster motivation leaves the bulk of group projects to members who are more motivated to excel.
  • * 2010 , Leif H. Smith, Todd M. Kays, Sports Psychology for Dummies , page 47,
  • As an athlete, you'll feel more motivated when you're confident in your skill set and believe in your ability to continue to improve.

    passionate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Given to strong feeling, sometimes romantic and/or sexual.
  • Fired with intense feeling; ardent, blazing, burning.
  • * Prior
  • Homer's Achilles is haughty and passionate .
  • (obsolete) Suffering; sorrowful.
  • * 1596 , , II. i. 544:
  • She is sad and passionate at your highness' tent.
  • * 1599 , , I. ii. 124:
  • Poor, forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,

    Synonyms

    * (fired with intense feeling) ardent, blazing, burning, dithyrambic, fervent, fervid, fiery, flaming, glowing, heated, hot-blooded, hotheaded, impassioned, perfervid, red-hot, scorching, torrid.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A passionate individual.
  • Verb

    (passionat)
  • (obsolete) To fill with passion, or with another given emotion.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.xii:
  • Great pleasure mixt with pittifull regard, / That godly King and Queene did passionate [...].
  • (obsolete) To express with great emotion.
  • * 1607 , , III. ii. 6:
  • Thy niece and I, poor creatures, want our hands / And cannot passionate our tenfold grief / with folded arms.