When norah finally got tickets to the concert, she asked me to go with her. i am an ardent fan of bluegrass music, so of course i said yes. malinda said she would be willing to go, too. which statement best explains the nuance between ardent and willing? both words connote the same thing. both words have negative connotations. ardent implies a deep desire for something, while willing implies simply a readiness to do something. willing implies a deep desire for something, while ardent implies simply a readiness to do something.