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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The taste experience will infatuate both the novice and connoisseur. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2021 Sad & Lonely in Illinois Dear Sad & Lonely: Yes, you are infatuated with the idea of a person. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 28 May 2020 Kingsbury became infatuated with Webb’s size and arm. Steve Doerschuk, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2019 Selling a station wagon in an American car market infatuated with SUVs is a risky play for a manufacturer. Mike Sutton, Car and Driver, 23 Apr. 2020 Yes, there are times when I have been infatuated with men. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 18 Mar. 2020 Yes, there are times when I have been infatuated with men. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 18 Mar. 2020 Jew said one of his favorite dishes growing up was sweet and sour chicken, and he was infatuated with the different replications of the recipe in homes and restaurants. Justin Phillips, SFChronicle.com, 14 Jan. 2020 Scouts are infatuated with Green’s alpha mentality, and many project him as a high-usage playmaker in the NBA. Connor Letourneau, SFChronicle.com, 10 Feb. 2020 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Latin infatuatus, past participle of infatuare, from in- + fatuus fatuous