noun
limerence
LIM-ur-unss
Limerence (noun) means an intense, involuntary infatuation with someone, marked by obsessive thoughts and a craving for the feeling to be returned. Example: “What she called love was closer to limerence.”
noun
1
An intense, involuntary infatuation with someone, marked by obsessive thoughts and a craving for the feeling to be returned.
"What she called love was closer to limerence."
How to use limerence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishObsessive infatuation with someone, wanting them to feel the same.
When to use it
Originally a psychology term, now widespread in everyday writing about relationships.
Easily confused with
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What she called love was closer to _____.
Etymology
Coined by the psychologist Dorothy Tennov to name a state she distinguished from both love and ordinary attraction.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for limerence
See all rhymes for limerence →Frequently asked questions
What is limerence?
An involuntary, obsessive infatuation — intrusive thoughts about one person, mood swinging on any sign of reciprocation, and a craving for that feeling to be returned. It was named to distinguish this state from settled love.
What is the difference between limerence and love?
Limerence is driven by uncertainty and fixation, and typically fades. Love, as usually meant, involves knowing the other person and a stable attachment. Limerence can precede love, but it can also attach to someone barely known.
What is the meaning of limerence?
"limerence" (noun) means an intense, involuntary infatuation with someone, marked by obsessive thoughts and a craving for the feeling to be returned.
What is another word for limerence?
Other words for "limerence" include infatuation, obsession.
