fanatic

[ fuh-nat-ik ]

noun

1. a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics.

   Synonyms: militant, hothead, bigot, zealot, enthusiast

adjective

1. fanatical.

fanatic

/ fəˈnætɪk /

noun

1. a person whose enthusiasm or zeal for something is extreme or beyond normal limits
2. informal.
   a person devoted to a particular hobby or pastime; fan

   a jazz fanatic

adjective

1. a variant of fanatical

Other Words From

• nonfa·natic noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fanatic¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin fānāticus “pertaining to a temple, inspired by a divinity, frantic,” equivalent to fānum “temple” + -āticus, equivalent to -āt(us) -ate ¹ + -icus -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of fanatic¹

C16: from Latin fānāticus belonging to a temple, hence, inspired by a god, frenzied, from fānum temple

Synonym Study

Fanatic, zealot, militant, devotee refer to persons showing more than ordinary support for, adherence to, or interest in a cause, point of view, or activity. Fanatic and zealot both suggest excessive or overweening devotion to a cause or belief. Fanatic further implies unbalanced or obsessive behavior: a wild-eyed fanatic. Zealot, only slightly less unfavorable in implication than fanatic, implies single-minded partisanship: a tireless zealot for tax reform. Militant stresses vigorous, aggressive support for or opposition to a plan or ideal and suggests a combative stance. Devotee is a milder term than any of the foregoing, suggesting enthusiasm but not to the exclusion of other interests or possible points of view: a jazz devotee.

Example Sentences

After reading Ever Yours, if nothing else, one can start to understand how such a fanatic mind could produce such fanatic art.

From The Daily Beast

An anime fanatic in middle school, Jackson thought to herself one day: “Hey, maybe I should try watching real people.”

From The Daily Beast

“It was no brute whom Smiley was pursuing with such mastery, no unqualified fanatic after all, no automaton,” le Carré writes.

From The Daily Beast

That being said, what Friends fanatic wouldn't like to give Brad Pitt a little slap?

From The Daily Beast

His tone as captured by the video he then posted on Facebook  is not manifestly that of some a fanatic or a psychopath.

From The Daily Beast

His impetuosity called forth the expression, “He is a fanatic who will lead us to a precipice.”

From Project Gutenberg

It is but too true that one fanatic is sufficient for the commission of a parricide, without any accomplice.

From Project Gutenberg

His face shone with extraordinary brilliancy, due, no doubt, to the excess of strength which his fanatic devotion gave him.

From Project Gutenberg

But there was no telling at what moment these fanatic Mexicans would discover what was going on, and balk it all.

From Project Gutenberg

He had always been a loyal citizen—not a fanatic, but loyal—and it wasn't easy for him to question his own basic assumptions.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• addict
• bigot
• devotee
• enthusiast
• extremist
• fiend
• freak
• maniac
• militant
• nut
• radical
• visionary
• zealot