heartthrob
Definition
Noun: 1. A person, typically a celebrity, who is the object of intense romantic infatuation or admiration, especially for their physical attractiveness. This refers to someone, often a famous actor, singer, or model, who causes feelings of excitement and romantic longing in their fans.
Usage
The word is used to describe a person who is widely adored and considered romantically desirable by many people. It often implies a level of fame and a youthful, attractive appearance. - The lead singer of the band became an international heartthrob after the music video went viral. - In the 1990s, he was considered the ultimate teen heartthrob, with posters of him on countless bedroom walls.
Advanced Usage
- Collective Infatuation: The term often describes a phenomenon where a large group of people (e.g., fans of a particular show or music genre) share the same object of admiration.
- The actor's role in the romantic series instantly turned him into a heartthrob for a generation of viewers.
Variants and Related Words
- Heart-throb (noun): An alternative hyphenated spelling with the same meaning.
- Crush (noun): A more general and personal term for a brief, intense infatuation with someone, not necessarily a celebrity.
- Pin-up (noun): Historically, a picture of a sexually attractive person, often a model or celebrity, designed for display. While related, "pin-up" refers more to the image itself, whereas "heartthrob" refers to the person.
Synonyms
- Idol
- Dreamboat (informal)
- Object of affection/desire
Antonyms
- Nobody
- Unknown
Related Idioms
- To set hearts aflutter: To cause people to feel excited or romantically interested. This phrase describes the effect a heartthrob has.
- The new superhero actor is setting hearts aflutter all over the country.
Noun
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an object of infatuation
