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 Words From

• zealless adjective
• under·zeal 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

Uscinski, for his part, thinks the risk of a social desirability bias with QAnon is minimal, given the unabashed zeal with which proponents seem to demonstrate their support.

From FiveThirtyEight

He brings the same intuitive scrutiny to Tolontan and his staff, as they chase down new angles of their corruption story with a zeal that ends up endangering them.

From Time

At least that’s what you’d conclude when you think about New Year’s resolutions and the zeal with which so many people make them.

From Freakonomics

That is, the communal zeal these days is not love for party but hate for elites.

From Ozy

If Carlson runs in 2024, he would be an instant frontrunner given his anti-establishment zeal and platform on the most popular cable news show by far.

From Ozy

It was his business acumen, his own unflagging zeal for the creative business solution, that had freed Sam to do this.

From The Daily Beast

Thereafter, the 1960s swelled with political zeal and social unrest.

From The Daily Beast

He implored me to do so with the zeal of someone who had just found God, emphatically praising the article.

From The Daily Beast

Even as the ranks of culture warriors on the right diminish, their zeal seems to intensify.

From The Daily Beast

One of those preachers admitted to The Daily Beast that he was taken aback by her zeal.

From The Daily Beast

His zeal led him among foreigners as a missionary; after visiting Bohemia, he went among the Poles, by whom he was killed.

From Project Gutenberg

They have fought countless bloody wars and have committed countless horrible atrocities in their zeal for Him.

From Project Gutenberg

I have dared to relate this to your Majesty because of my zeal as a loyal vassal, and as one who looks at things dispassionately.

From Project Gutenberg

Zeal, who was sitting stiffly forward, his hands gripping the arms of his chair, laughed dryly.

From Project Gutenberg

He braced himself unconsciously, and after Zeal's next words did not relax his body, although his lips turned white and stiff.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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