# intense vs intensive

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### intense
*adjective · IPA /ɪnˈtɛns/ · frequency rank #3,698*
Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering.

### intensive
*adjective · IPA /ɪnˈtɛnsɪv/ · frequency rank #6,485*
Done with intensity or to a great degree; thorough.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intense-vs-intensive