infatuated - Master This Word
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infatuated Word Meanings
- to inspire a foolish or extravagant love
- to cause someone to have an intense but short-lived passion
- to make someone obsessed with someone or something
infatuated Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
infatuated Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪnˈfæʧ.ʊ.eɪt/
US
/ɪnˈfætʃ.u.eɪt/
infatuated Word Etymology
Infatuate breaks down into 'in-' (in, into) + 'fatuate' (to make foolish), derived from Latin 'infatuare'. Historically, it moved from Latin to Old French and then to English. Imagine a person falling head over heels in love, blinded by affection and making foolish decisions, such as buying extravagant gifts they can't afford.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Infatuate is a vivid verb used to describe a moment when someone causes another person to feel a foolish, intense, and usually short‑lived passion. It can describe both the person who is infatuated and the object of the infatuation, but it carries a sense of recklessness and impulsiveness rather than steady, mature love. You might say someone is infatuated with a celebrity, a new hobby, or a romantic interest, and the feeling can lead to imprudent choices. The action is often contrasted with genuine commitment. In everyday speech, infatuate is more common in informal or literary contexts; in formal writing, speakers opt for words like enamor or be captivated by rather than infatuate.
Usage Reminders
- Remember infatuate is transitive and used with a person or thing as the object. Use with with or by; avoid implying lasting love. It is stronger and more literary than simple love. Do not confuse infatuation (noun) with infatuate (verb). Typical collocations include infatuate someone with something or be infatuated with someone.
Common Misconceptions
- Infatuate is not the same as love or devotion.
- Infatuation (the noun) is a state, not the act of making someone feel that way.
- It often implies a strong impulse rather than mature commitment.
- It does not always involve a romantic relationship; it can be about objects or ideas.
- It can carry a humorous or critical tone depending on context.
Thinking Differences
English speakers often see infatuate as a strong but short term impulse you would use in informal or literary contexts. Other languages may have separate words for the emotional state (like Chinese 迷恋 or Japanese 熱狂) that carry slightly different nuances about duration or intensity. Learners should avoid overusing infatuate in formal writing and keep clear that it describes causing a feeling rather than a lasting relationship.
Learning Tips
- Distinguish infatuate from love; it describes causing a feeling, not long term commitment.
- Note the transitive usage: infatuate someone with something.
- Recognize its strong, often imprudent tone.
- Differentiate infatuation (noun) from infatuate (verb).
- Practice with varied contexts to sense nuance.
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