zeal

[zeel]

noun

1. fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.

   Synonyms: passion, intensity
   Antonyms: apathy

zeal

/ ziːl /

noun

1. fervent or enthusiastic devotion, often extreme or fanatical in nature, as to a religious movement, political cause, ideal, or aspiration

Other Word Forms

• zealless adjective
• underzeal noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English zele, from Late Latin zēlus “jealousy, rivalry,” from Greek zêlos

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeal¹

C14: from Late Latin zēlus, from Greek zēlos

Example Sentences

But for all his zeal in exposing secrets, Hersh has never been comfortable turning the focus on himself.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

By contrast, her father delighted in his daughter’s zeal for learning.

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Maybe it's out of habit or maybe because, in their zeal to slash government services and worker rolls, Republicans overplay their hand.

Read more on BBC

Most alarmingly, he’s been terrorizing immigrants with something akin to zeal, painting food cart operators and day care workers as an existential threat to middle America.

Read more on Salon

The week started full of optimism and zeal.

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Related Words

• ardor 
• determination 
• devotion 
• diligence 
• eagerness 
• earnestness 
• fanaticism 
• fervor 
• gusto 
• inclination 
• intensity 
• passion 
• perseverance 
• sincerity 
• spirit 
• urgency 
• verve 
• warmth 
• zest