zealous

[ zel-uhs ]

adjective

1. full of, characterized by, or due to zeal; ardently active, devoted, or diligent.

   Synonyms: warm, passionate, intense, fervent, fervid, eager, enthusiastic

   Antonyms: lackadaisical, apathetic

zealous

/ ˈzɛləs /

adjective

1. filled with or inspired by intense enthusiasm or zeal; ardent; fervent

Derived Forms

• ˈzealously, adverb
• ˈzealousness, noun

Other Words From

• zealous·ly adverb
• zealous·ness noun
• non·zealous adjective
• non·zealous·ly adverb
• non·zealous·ness noun
• under·zealous adjective
• under·zealous·ly adverb
• under·zealous·ness noun
• un·zealous adjective
• un·zealous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of zealous¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin zēlōsus; zeal, -ous

Example Sentences

Rather, I understood such zealous procedures as necessary security precautions.

From Washington Post

Although zealous in defense of their own rights and freedoms, they are less concerned about the rights and freedoms of those who are not like them.

From Washington Post

Since no amount of logical arguments, cajoling or bribery will change the minds of zealous conspiracy theorists, Fauci probably won’t convince skeptics that the NIH bigwig is a paragon of public service.

From The Daily Beast

To get it right, it’s important not to be over zealous on the number of channels used, within whatever company tools are used to communicate — whether it’s Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Google Docs.

From Digiday

It’s easy to get over-zealous and buy grilling tools that you’ll never use.

From Popular-Science

These labels matter, but so does our over-zealous urge to dole them out and endlessly dwell on them.

From The Daily Beast

Americans have a right to fear over-zealous and unwarranted surveillance by the NSA.

From The Daily Beast

The extremely zealous President Kevin Baugh has been issuing war bonds to raise funds in case fighting becomes necessary.

From The Daily Beast

Zealous populist patriots might pal around on principle, but banding together effectively is another matter.

From The Daily Beast

Some of them were brought up in the faith; some are zealous converts.

From The Daily Beast

He was so zealous a partisan of democracy, and of Cromwell, that the authorities frequently placed him in a straight jacket.

From Project Gutenberg

Paul Egede died, aged 81; author of an Account of Greenland, and a zealous missionary there.

From Project Gutenberg

He found himself among kinsmen who were zealous Roman Catholics.

From Project Gutenberg

Vernon was a zealous Whig, and not personally unacceptable to the chiefs of his party.

From Project Gutenberg

But, though Portland was an unreasonable and querulous friend, he was a most faithful and zealous minister.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ardent
• avid
• dedicated
• earnest
• fanatical
• fervent
• impassioned
• passionate
• rabid