Synonyms of smitten, such as enamored, infatuated, captivated, and charmed, describe the feeling of being deeply in love or strongly attracted to someone or something. For example, “enamored” shows deep affection, while “infatuated” highlights an intense but often short-lived passion. These words capture the warmth, excitement, and emotional rush of falling for someone.
If you’re writing about romance, admiration, or affection, using the right synonym for smitten helps express emotions more vividly and naturally.
These synonyms of smitten not only add charm to your writing but also help you convey love and admiration in many shades—from gentle affection to head-over-heels attraction.
What Does Smitten Mean?
Smitten means to be deeply affected by love, admiration, or fascination. It often describes the feeling of being emotionally struck or overwhelmed by affection. It can show:
- Deep romantic attraction
- Admiration or fascination
- Emotional warmth or tenderness
- Excitement when thinking about someone
It’s not just liking someone—they are completely taking it. Think of smitten as that magical mix of awe, affection, and joy that comes with falling in love.
Synonyms for Smitten (With Meanings, Usage & Examples)
1. Infatuated
Meaning: Intense but often short-lived admiration or love.
When to Use: Use when describing early-stage attraction or temporary obsession.
Example: He was infatuated with her confidence and charm.
2. Enamored
Meaning: Deeply in love or filled with admiration.
When to Use: More formal and timeless; suitable for romantic or intellectual admiration.
Example: She was enamored of his gentle nature and kind words.
3. Captivated
Meaning: Completely attracted or held spellbound.
When to Use: Ideal when someone’s attention is wholly absorbed, not always romantic.
Example: The audience was captivated by her powerful voice.
4. Besotted
Meaning: Utterly in love, sometimes foolishly so.
When to Use: When affection borders on obsession or naivety.
Example: He was besotted with her to the point of ignoring all flaws.
5. Charmed
Meaning: Delighted and fascinated, often gently.
When to Use: Softer and more polite than “smitten”; good for social admiration.
Example: I was charmed by his humor and easygoing manner.
6. Enchanted
Meaning: Deeply delighted or bewitched, as if under a spell.
When to Use: Great for romantic or magical tones.
Example: She was enchanted by the candlelight dinner and soft music.
7. Adoring
Meaning: Showing deep love and admiration.
When to Use: Warm, loyal affection — perfect for steady love.
Example: He looked at her with adoring eyes.
8. Obsessed
Meaning: Preoccupied or fixated on someone or something.
When to Use: When attraction becomes all-consuming or unhealthy.
Example: She was obsessed with every detail of his life.
9. Entranced
Meaning: Deeply absorbed or fascinated as if hypnotized.
When to Use: Perfect for moments of wonder or beauty.
Example: He was entranced by her graceful movements on stage.
10. Fascinated
Meaning: Extremely interested or intrigued.
When to Use: Broader than romantic — works for both people and ideas.
Example: She was fascinated by his mysterious past.
11. Head Over Heels
Meaning: Completely and helplessly in love.
When to Use: Playful, casual phrase for strong romantic emotions.
Example: He’s head over heels for her after just one date.
12. Love-Struck
Meaning: Overwhelmed by romantic feelings.
When to Use: When describing the emotional impact of love.
Example: The love-struck teenager couldn’t stop smiling.
13. Bewitched
Meaning: Captivated as if under a spell.
When to Use: Adds a magical or mysterious undertone.
Example: He was bewitched by her laughter.
14. Enthralled
Meaning: Completely absorbed or enchanted.
When to Use: When someone’s presence or talent commands full attention.
Example: The crowd was enthralled by his storytelling.
15. Spellbound
Meaning: Unable to look away; deeply fascinated.
When to Use: Best for moments of awe or emotional pull.
Example: She stood spellbound as he confessed his love.
16. In Love
Meaning: Deep romantic affection.
When to Use: The simplest and most universal expression of being smitten.
Example: They were deeply in love from the start.
17. Taken
Meaning: Emotionally committed to someone.
When to Use: Informal and modern; often used in relationship status.
Example: Sorry, he’s taken — his heart belongs to someone else.
18. Crushing
Meaning: Having a strong romantic interest, usually unspoken.
When to Use: Common in teenage or casual contexts.
Example: She’s been crushing on her coworker for months.
19. Passionate
Meaning: Full of strong, intense emotion.
When to Use: For love that burns deeply and energetically.
Example: Their passionate connection was undeniable.
20. Devoted
Meaning: Loyal, dedicated affection.
When to Use: For steady, long-term love or admiration.
Example: He remained devoted to her through every hardship.
21. Affectionate
Meaning: Showing love through gestures or words.
When to Use: Suitable for warm, tender relationships.
Example: She gave him an affectionate smile.
22. Tender
Meaning: Soft, gentle, caring love.
When to Use: Evokes emotional warmth and empathy.
Example: He spoke to her in a tender, soothing voice.
23. Amorous
Meaning: Strongly romantic or sexual attraction.
When to Use: Adds a mature, sensual tone.
Example: His amorous advances left her blushing.
24. Heartfelt
Meaning: Sincere and deeply felt emotion.
When to Use: When expressing genuine love or admiration.
Example: She gave him a heartfelt note before he left.
25. Admiring
Meaning: Respectful appreciation or fondness.
When to Use: Works for admiration beyond romance — talent, beauty, or courage.
Example: He watched her with an admiring gaze as she performed.
26. Warm
Meaning: Kind, emotionally open affection.
When to Use: Good for friendly or comforting emotional bonds.
Example: She greeted him with a warm smile.
27. Attached
Meaning: Having a strong emotional connection or dependence.
When to Use: Neutral, fits both romantic and platonic bonds.
Example: The child became deeply attached to his foster family.
28. Wild About
Meaning: Wildly enthusiastic or in love with someone.
When to Use: Informal, energetic, and modern.
Example: He’s wild about his new girlfriend.
29. Starry-Eyed
Meaning: Idealistically or naively romantic.
When to Use: For dreamy or youthful affection.
Example: The starry-eyed couple planned their future together.
30. Adolescently in Love
Meaning: Childlike, intense, and often naïve affection.
When to Use: To describe immature but genuine emotion.
Example: He acted adolescently in love, writing her poems every day.
How to Choose the Right Synonym for “Smitten”
The right synonym depends on tone, intensity, and context:
- Playful tone: Use crushing, wild about, or head over heels.
- Romantic & poetic tone: Choose enchanted, bewitched, or enthralled.
- Deep & emotional tone: Go for devoted, adoring, or tender.
- Obsessive or fleeting tone: Use infatuated or besotted.
- Respectful admiration: Try admiring or being captivated.
Cultural note:
In modern English, smitten feels sweet, innocent, and old-fashioned, while phrases like crushing sound youthful and informal. Use enamored or devoted for more mature or literary writing.
Conclusion:
The synonyms of smitten show many shades of love and admiration. Words like enamored, infatuated, and captivated help describe how it feels to care deeply for someone or something. Each word adds its own color to the emotion—soft, strong, or sudden.
Using the right synonym lets your writing sound more heartfelt and real. Whether you’re describing a crush, deep affection, or pure admiration, these words make the feeling easy to understand and relate to.
In the end, being smitten is about joy, warmth, and that spark that makes love feel exciting and new.
