infatuate

verb

in·fat·u·ate | \ in-ˈfa-chə-ˌwāt

, -chü-ˌāt\

infatuated; infatuating

Definition of infatuate

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cause to be foolish : deprive of sound judgment

2 : to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration

infatuate

adjective

in·fat·u·ate | \ in-ˈfa-chə-wət

, -chü-ət\

Definition of infatuate (Entry 2 of 2)

: being in an infatuated state or condition

What is the origin of infatuated? Example Sentences Learn More about infatuate

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What is the origin of infatuated?

Adjective

When we speak of someone being infatuated it very often is in relationship to that person having seemingly taken leave of his or her senses, especially in a romantic context (“he was so infatuated that he could not remember what day of the week it was”). This is fitting, as the word shares an origin with the word fatuous, which means complacently or inanely foolish. Both words come from the Latin fatuus (“foolish”), although fatuous is not often used in the romantic contexts in which we find infatuate. When used with a preposition infatuated is typically followed by with.

Examples of infatuate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Wagshol’s mother told investigators that her son was infatuated with guns. — Nicholas Rondinone, courant.com, "Suspended CCSU student who ‘showed interest’ in mass killing was investigated for threatening classmates in 2008," 3 Sep. 2019 He is infatuated with Winston Churchill, the cigar-chomping British politician. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, "Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is like Trump. Only he isn't.," 23 July 2019 Little told authorities that he was infatuated with women’s necks. — John Caniglia, cleveland.com, "Convicted serial killer Sam Little set to plead guilty in slayings of Ohio women," 23 Aug. 2019 The lady in question is Anne, a colleague infatuated with Richard. — David Canfield, EW.com, "Going Dutch is a hilarious, feverish deconstruction of gay millennial life," 19 Aug. 2019 The story follows Miles, who is infatuated with a girl named Alaska at their boarding school in Alabama. — Delfina Barbiero, USA TODAY, "'Looking for Alaska' details revealed for Hulu limited series, based on John Green novel," 4 June 2019 Most critics loathed or ignore it, but Kael was infatuated, and her 9,000-word defence of the outlaw biopic earned her a position at the New Yorker. — N.b., The Economist, "The singular genius of Pauline Kael," 1 July 2019 Whereas season one’s director Jean-Marc Vallée shot the Pacific waves buffeting craggy rocks with epic grandeur, the director of season two, Andrea Arnold, is less infatuated with the scenery. — Rachel Syme, The New Republic, "Big Little Lies Gets Tough," 28 June 2019 Prosecutors say Amato killed his relatives after he was kicked out of the Sultan Circle home for violating his father’s instructions to stop speaking with a Bulgarian web cam model with whom Amato was infatuated. — Michael Williams, orlandosentinel.com, "Grant Amato’s friends say he falsely tied his brother to ‘god of death’ while discussing anime in court," 27 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infatuate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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infatuate

Definition of infatuate

What is the origin of infatuated?

Examples of infatuate in a Sentence

First Known Use of infatuate

History and Etymology for infatuate

infatuate

Definition of infatuate

What is the origin of infatuated?

Examples of infatuate in a Sentence

First Known Use of infatuate

History and Etymology for infatuate

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