Infatuation vs. Love — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
Infatuation is a short-lived, intense passion, often based on surface attributes. Love is a deep, enduring emotional bond, transcending physical allure.
Difference Between Infatuation and Love
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Infatuation, by its nature, is characterized by a sudden rush of emotions and an intense attraction to someone, often based on physical appearances or superficial traits. Love, on the other hand, is a profound connection that grows over time, rooted in mutual understanding, trust, and respect.
Infatuation can be likened to a spark that burns brightly but briefly. It often emerges from a place of idealization, where the other person can do no wrong, and there's a sense of urgency to the relationship. Love, conversely, is like a steady flame, warming and consistent. It acknowledges the flaws in another but chooses to love them still.
Infatuation usually carries with it a sense of uncertainty, anxiety, and obsession about the relationship's future. There's often a fear that it might end soon. Love, in contrast, brings a feeling of security, comfort, and the knowledge that both parties are committed to facing challenges together.
Infatuation, while intense, might not survive the test of time, especially when confronted with challenges. It might wane as quickly as it flared up. Love, however, has resilience and depth. It grows and evolves, navigating life's ups and downs with grace and fortitude.
Comparison Chart
Duration
Short-lived and fleeting.
Enduring and long-lasting.
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Basis
Often based on physical attraction.
Rooted in deep emotional connection.
Feelings
Intense, urgent, obsessive.
Steady, comforting, secure.
Reality vs. Ideal
More about idealizing the person.
Sees and accepts the person's true self.
Evolution Over Time
Tends to fade with challenges.
Grows stronger with challenges.
Compare with Definitions
Infatuation
Infatuation is a sudden, intense, but often short-lived passion for someone.
Within a week of meeting him, her infatuation was evident.
Love
Love is a deep, enduring affection and commitment towards someone.
Their love for each other was evident in every gesture.
Infatuation
Infatuation can sometimes be mistaken for love due to its intense nature.
She thought it was true love, but it turned out to be mere infatuation.
Love
Love is unconditional and is not solely based on fleeting emotions.
Even when they disagreed, their love remained unshaken.
Infatuation
Infatuation is characterized by an obsessive interest in someone based largely on physical attraction.
Her infatuation with the movie star was purely based on his looks.
Love
Love sees and accepts the entirety of another person, flaws and all.
She knew his imperfections, but her love for him was unwavering.
Infatuation
Infatuation or being smitten is the state of being carried away by an unreasoned passion, usually towards another person for whom one has developed strong romantic or platonic feelings. Psychologist Frank D. Cox says that infatuation can be distinguished from romantic love only when looking back on a particular case of being attracted to a person.
Love
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food.
Infatuation
To inspire with unreasoning love or attachment.
Love
A strong feeling of affection and concern toward another person, as that arising from kinship or close friendship.
Infatuation
To cause to behave foolishly.
Love
A strong feeling of affection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction.
Infatuation
Infatuated.
Love
A feeling of devotion or adoration toward God or a god.
Infatuation
An immensely strong love or sexual attraction.
Love
A feeling of kindness or concern by God or a god toward humans.
Infatuation
(obsolete) The act of infatuating; the state of being infatuated; madness.
Love
Often Love(Christianity) Charity.
Infatuation
Something which infatuates.
Love
Sexual desire or activity
The pleasures of love.
A night of love.
Infatuation
The act of infatuating; the state of being infatuated; folly; that which infatuates.
The infatuations of the sensual and frivolous part of mankind are amazing; but the infatuations of the learned and sophistical are incomparably more so.
Such is the infatuation of self-love.
Love
An instance of being in love
Teenage loves can be as fleeting as they are intense.
Infatuation
Foolish and usually extravagant passion or love or admiration
Love
A person for whom one has strong feelings of affection
She met her new love at the restaurant.
Infatuation
Temporary love of an adolescent
Love
Used as a term of endearment for such a person.
Infatuation
An object of extravagant short-lived passion
Love
An intense emotional attachment to something, as to a pet or treasured object.
Infatuation
Infatuation often involves idealizing the other person without truly knowing them.
His infatuation made him overlook her flaws.
Love
An expression of one's affection
Send him my love.
Infatuation
Infatuation is more about how the other person makes one feel than about the other person themselves.
Her infatuation was driven by the excitement he brought into her life.
Love
A strong predilection or enthusiasm
A love of language.
Love for the game of golf.
Love
The object of such an enthusiasm
The outdoors is her greatest love.
Love
Love(Mythology) Eros or Cupid.
Love
(Sports) A score of zero, as in tennis.
Love
To feel love for (a person)
We love our parents. I love my friends.
Love
To feel sexual love for (a person).
Love
To feel devotion to (God or a god).
Love
To feel or show kindness or concern to (a person). Used of God or a god.
Love
To have an intense emotional attachment to
Loves his house.
Love
To embrace or caress
They were loving each other on the sofa.
Love
To have sexual intercourse with.
Love
To like or desire enthusiastically
Loves swimming.
Love
To thrive on; need
The cactus loves hot, dry air.
Love
To feel love or sexual love for another.
Love
(uncountable) A deep caring for the existence of another.
Love
(uncountable) Strong affection.
Love
A profound and caring affection towards someone.
A mother’s love is not easily shaken.
My husband’s love is the most important thing in my life.
Love
Affectionate, benevolent concern or care for other people or beings, and for their well-being.
Love
A feeling of intense attraction towards someone.
I have never been in love as much as I have with you.
Love
A deep or abiding liking for something; an enthusiasm for something.
My love of cricket knows no bounds.
Love
(countable) A person who is the object of romantic feelings; a darling, a sweetheart, a beloved.
Love
A term of friendly address, regardless of feelings.
Hello love, how can I help you?
Love
A thing, activity, etc. which is the object of one's deep liking or enthusiasm.
Love
(euphemistic) Sexual desire; attachment based on sexual attraction.
Love
(euphemistic) Sexual activity.
Love
An instance or episode of being in love; a love affair.
Love
Used as the closing, before the signature, of a letter, especially between good friends or family members, or by the young.
Love
(obsolete) A thin silk material.
Love
A climbing plant, Clematis vitalba.
Love
Zero, no score.
So that’s fifteen-love to Kournikova.
Love
Nothing; no recompense.
Love
To have a strong affection for (someone or something).
I love my spouse.
I love you!
I love that song!
Love
(transitive) To need, thrive on.
Mold loves moist, dark places.
Love
(transitive) To be strongly inclined towards something; an emphatic form of like.
I love walking barefoot on wet grass;
I'd love to join the team;
I love what you've done with your hair
Love
To care deeply about, to be dedicated to (someone or something).
Love
(transitive) To derive delight from a fact or situation.
I love the fact that the coffee shop now offers fat-free chai latte.
Love
To have sex with (perhaps from make love).
I wish I could love her all night long.
Love
A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preëminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters.
Of all the dearest bonds we proveThou countest sons' and mothers' loveMost sacred, most Thine own.
Love
Especially, devoted attachment to, or tender or passionate affection for, one of the opposite sex.
He on his sideLeaning half-raised, with looks of cordial loveHung over her enamored.
Love
Courtship; - chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e., to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage.
Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,And won her soul.
Love
Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; - opposed to hate; often with of and an object.
Love, and health to all.
Smit with the love of sacred song.
The love of science faintly warmed his breast.
Love
Due gratitude and reverence to God.
Keep yourselves in the love of God.
Love
The object of affection; - often employed in endearing address; as, he held his love in his arms; his greatest love was reading.
Open the temple gates unto my love.
Love
Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus.
Such was his form as painters, when they showTheir utmost art, on naked Lores bestow.
Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love.
Love
A thin silk stuff.
Love
A climbing species of Clematis (Clematis Vitalba).
Love
Nothing; no points scored on one side; - used in counting score at tennis, etc.
He won the match by three sets to love.
Love
Sexual intercourse; - a euphemism.
A little western flower,Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound;And maidens call it love-in-idleness.
Love
To have a feeling of love for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love one's children and friends; to love one's country; to love one's God.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
Love
To regard with passionate and devoted affection, as that of one sex for the other.
Love
To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures.
Wit, eloquence, and poetry.Arts which I loved.
Love
To have the feeling of love; to be in love.
Love
A strong positive emotion of regard and affection;
His love for his work
Children need a lot of love
Love
Any object of warm affection or devotion;
The theater was her first love
He has a passion for cock fighting
Love
A beloved person; used as terms of endearment
Love
A deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction;
Their love left them indifferent to their surroundings
She was his first love
Love
A score of zero in tennis or squash;
It was 40 love
Love
Sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people;
His lovemaking disgusted her
He hadn't had any love in months
He has a very complicated love life
Love
Have a great affection or liking for;
I love French food
She loves her boss and works hard for him
Love
Get pleasure from;
I love cooking
Love
Be enamored or in love with;
She loves her husband deeply
Love
Have sexual intercourse with;
This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm
Adam knew Eve
Were you ever intimate with this man?
Love
Love involves understanding, trust, and mutual respect.
Through thick and thin, their love never wavered.
Love
Love is more than just a feeling; it's an action and a choice.
He showed his love not just in words, but in his everyday actions.
Common Curiosities
What's the primary difference between infatuation and love?
Infatuation is a short-lived, intense passion, often based on surface traits, while love is a deep, enduring emotional connection.
Is love static?
No, love evolves and grows over time, adapting to life's changes.
Can infatuation be with things or ideas, not just people?
Yes, one can be infatuated with concepts, hobbies, or material items.
Can infatuation turn into love?
Yes, infatuation can evolve into love over time as individuals get to truly know each other.
How long does infatuation typically last?
Infatuation can vary in duration but typically lasts a few months to a year.
Can you be infatuated and in love at the same time?
Yes, it's possible to experience both simultaneously, especially in the early stages of a relationship.
How can one differentiate between love and infatuation in a relationship?
Time, depth of connection, and how challenges are navigated can help distinguish between the two.
Is love always mutual?
No, love can be one-sided, just as infatuation can be.
Is infatuation always a bad thing?
Not necessarily; infatuation can be the initial spark that leads to a deeper connection.
Can love exist without infatuation?
Absolutely, love can develop slowly over time without the initial phase of infatuation.
Can one mistake infatuation for love?
Yes, due to its intensity, infatuation is often mistaken for love, especially in the beginning.
Why does infatuation fade quickly?
Infatuation is often based on surface traits, which can be fleeting or change over time.
What's the role of trust in love?
Trust is foundational in love, creating a safe space for vulnerability and connection.
Why is love considered powerful?
Love, with its depth and endurance, can overcome challenges, heal wounds, and inspire actions.
Is love always romantic?
No, love can be platonic, familial, or even towards oneself.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
