as in fervent
feeling or showing strong and energetic support for a person, cause, etc.; filled with zeal
zealous fans She was one of the president's most zealous supporters. The detective was zealous in her pursuit of the kidnappers.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of zealous
Many nations across the Global South—including key players in Asia, Africa, and Latin America—do not share Europe's zealous support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
—
Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Now President Trump is aggressively seeking to reduce the size and strength of the IRS amid his zealous initiative to shrink the workforce and activities of the federal government.
—Bruce Brumberg, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Though less zealous than Vance or Burch, Trump administration nominees Linda McMahon for education secretary and Elise Stefanik for United Nations ambassador are Catholic or have a Catholic background.
—Liam Adams, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
They were drawn to subjects who were natural performers—the producer Joseph E. Levine, the Beatles—but were zealous about upholding vérité values.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zealous
Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Now President Trump is aggressively seeking to reduce the size and strength of the IRS amid his zealous initiative to shrink the workforce and activities of the federal government.
—Bruce Brumberg, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Though less zealous than Vance or Burch, Trump administration nominees Linda McMahon for education secretary and Elise Stefanik for United Nations ambassador are Catholic or have a Catholic background.
—Liam Adams, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
They were drawn to subjects who were natural performers—the producer Joseph E. Levine, the Beatles—but were zealous about upholding vérité values.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zealous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealous
Adjective
-
Thurmond, the fervent segregationist senator from South Carolina, spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes — 46 minutes less than Booker.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Even when projects earned mixed reviews from film critics or flew under the radar, Kilmer’s performances still drew commendations and cultivated a fervent fan following.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Wrestlers formed an enthusiastic niche and soon attracted other sports subcultures.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
In the auditorium in the Fertitta Hall basement, the biggest star of all is the eternally youthful, irrepressibly enthusiastic Carroll, 73, hired in January as new coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.—
Austin Knoblauch,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The United States, the most vocal and ardent opponent of reform, has formally left the WHO, but its pressure no doubt will be felt.—
Wade Davis,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The project was first fundraised by Critical Role’s ardent fanbase, who shelled out more than $11.3 million on Kickstarter to bring a 10-episode season to life.—
Sarah Whitten,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The couple alternates between passionate embraces and domestic tension (an ambulance shows up in their driveway, at one point, its whirring red and blue light hinting something sinister has just taken place).—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Sanchez, who described herself as a passionate volleyball player in her youth, talked of girls’ losing coveted spots on teams, and in some cases suffering injuries during games because of trans athletes unfairly competing against them.—
Jessica Garrison,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Zealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealous. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share