infatuate

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪnˈfætʃuˌeɪt/ UK /ɪnˈfætʃuˌeɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #284693

Meanings

1

verb
to fill someone with an intense but unreasoning and often short-lived attraction or admiration, usually used in the passive

He was infatuated with the singer and ignored every warning from his friends.
2

verb
dated or literary: to deprive someone of sound judgment through a delusive idea, passion, or enthusiasm

The promise of effortless wealth infatuated the speculators and blinded them to the risk.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to fill someone with an... besotenamor captivate obsess

2 verb · dated or literary: to... delude befool intoxicate

Opposites

disillusion disenchant repel

Word family

Forms infatuatedinfatuatedly

Derived forms infatuatedinfatuatinginfatuationinfatuator

Related forms fatuous besottedenamoredobsession

Etymology

From Latin infatuare ("make foolish"), based on in- ("into") + fatuus ("foolish"), through its participle infatuatus. English first used the verb for making someone foolish; by the seventeenth century it had developed the now-dominant sense of inspiring a passion that overcomes reason.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# infatuate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈfætʃuˌeɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈfætʃuˌeɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 284693

## Meanings
1. to fill someone with an intense but unreasoning and often short-lived attraction or admiration, usually used in the passive
2. dated or literary: to deprive someone of sound judgment through a delusive idea, passion, or enthusiasm

## Examples
- He was infatuated with the singer and ignored every warning from his friends.
- The promise of effortless wealth infatuated the speculators and blinded them to the risk.

## Synonyms
- besot
- enamor
- captivate
- obsess
- delude
- intoxicate

## Antonyms
- disillusion
- disenchant
- repel

## Derived Forms
- infatuated
- infatuating
- infatuation
- infatuator

## Related Forms
- fatuous
- besotted
- enamored
- obsession

## Etymology
From Latin infatuare ("make foolish"), based on in- ("into") + fatuus ("foolish"), through its participle infatuatus. English first used the verb for making someone foolish; by the seventeenth century it had developed the now-dominant sense of inspiring a passion that overcomes reason.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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