intense or intensive? These two words, though similar in form and meaning, have different areas of use. Intense means ‘extreme’: intense heat; under intense pressure to find a solution. It can also be used to describe people who are serious and feel emotion deeply (a very intense young man) and, when used in connection with people and their activities, usually suggests a high degree of personal commitment or emotional involvement: an intense effort to stave off bankruptcy. Intensive, on the other hand, is used more objectively and means ‘highly concentrated’, suggesting organized effort more than personal involvement: conducted an intensive search of the area