zealot

[zel-uht]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR zealot ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who shows zeal.

an excessively zealous person; fanatic.

(initial capital letter) a member of a radical, warlike, ardently patriotic group of Jews in Judea, particularly prominent from a.d. 69 to 81, advocating the violent overthrow of Roman rule and vigorously resisting the efforts of the Romans and their supporters to heathenize the Jews.

Nearby words

Origin of zealot

1530–40; earlier zelote < Late Latin zēlōtēs < Greek zēlṓtēs, equivalent to zēlō- (variant stem of zēloûn to be zealous; see zeal) + -tēs agent suffix

SYNONYMS FOR zealot

2. extremist, crank, bigot. See fanatic.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR zealot ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsun·der·zeal·ot, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for zealot

Kirsten Powers talks to the author of 'Zealot' about the double standard.
Jesus Needs Reza Aslan, Author of 'Zealot'|Kirsten Powers|August 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
For me,” said Pacino, “it was always the opportunity just to be able to explore the whole idea of a zealot.
Pacino's Best Performance in Years|Gina Piccalo|April 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I was sure the owner committed the cardinal sin of improperly storing his wine, and I smote him with all the fervor of a zealot.
The Myth About Old Wine|Keith Wallace|January 26, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The more confident right-wing Republicans become, the more likely they will nominate a Palin-like zealot in 2012.
Why the Democrats Should Lose|Peter Beinart|October 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Zada's character and her career had rendered her as contemptuous of public disapproval as any zealot of a loftier cause than love.
We Can't Have Everything|Rupert Hughes
The zealot was even threatened with excommunication by his fellow religionists.
John Knox and the Reformation|Andrew Lang
Into this morass Wolffert flung himself with the earnestness of a zealot.
John Marvel, Assistant|Thomas Nelson Page
Lanfranc, sprung from Imperialist Pavia, was no zealot for extravagant papal claims.
William the Conqueror|Edward Augustus Freeman
"Well, there is nothing to do about it now," said the Zealot.
Men Called Him Master|Elwyn Allen Smith

British Dictionary definitions for zealot

zealot

noun

an immoderate, fanatical, or extremely zealous adherent to a cause, esp a religious one

Word Origin for zealot

C16: from Late Latin zēlōtēs, from Greek, from zēloun to be zealous, from zēlos zeal

Zealot

noun

any of the members of an extreme Jewish sect or political party that resisted all aspects of Roman rule in Palestine in the 1st century ad

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for zealot

zealot

c.1300, "member of a militant 1st century Jewish sect which fiercely resisted the Romans in Palestine," from Late Latin Zelotes, from Greek zelotes "one who is a zealous follower," from zeloun "to be zealous," from zelos "zeal" (see zeal). Extended sense of "a fanatical enthusiast" first recorded 1630s.