zeal

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun zeal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of zeal are ardor, enthusiasm, fervor, and passion. While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

preaches with fanatical zeal

When is ardor a more appropriate choice than zeal?

While in some cases nearly identical to zeal, ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

Where would enthusiasm be a reasonable alternative to zeal?

The words enthusiasm and zeal can be used in similar contexts, but enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

never showed much enthusiasm for sports

When could fervor be used to replace zeal?

While the synonyms fervor and zeal are close in meaning, fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

read the poem aloud with great fervor

When can passion be used instead of zeal?

The synonyms passion and zeal are sometimes interchangeable, but passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

was a slave to his passions

Examples 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 zeal Over the past four years, antitrust enforcement has become unmoored from its economic foundations, driven instead by ideological zeal and political opportunism. Mark Jamison, National Review, 22 Nov. 2024 His descriptions of Thatcher, especially her inability to read social cues, mingle with his admiration for her leadership and ideological zeal. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024 Without ongoing motivation and reinforcement, the initial zeal spurred by a motivational speech diminishes rapidly, resulting in employees returning to their original state. Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024 The show is his baby, gestated with the dramaturg Jacob Mallinson Bird and delivered with mad-scientist zeal by the inexhaustible director Dustin Wills. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for zeal 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zeal
Noun
  • This is a watershed moment that underscores the need for democracies to defend their institutions with vigor and resolve.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Detroit Free Press William Roberts, a political animal who loved Walled Lake, his wife and serving the Lord with equal vigor, died Saturday after a long illness.
    M.L. Elrick, Detroit Free Press, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • As a lifelong car enthusiast Karl has combined his passion for personal transportation with his passion for ...
    Karl Brauer, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • One of the apprentices, who had a passion for adding saffron to the molten glass, hit on the idea of making the plain risotto for the wedding dinner turn gold like his windows.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Corbet found the swell of advance enthusiasm gratifying, if bewildering.
    Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
  • It’s been a confounding situation, where the ever-shrinking audience — and mostly bad reviews alongside low audience scores — didn’t seem to shrink Sony’s enthusiasm to keep pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a plan that nobody besides them had confidence or interest in.
    Mark Hughes, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Her concerts caused earthquakes, created a Beatlemania-level of fervor, impacted local economies and brought a collective joy to millions of people still reeling from the dark days of the pandemic.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Elected in 2016 with a mandate for reform in the wake of the killing of Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer, Foxx has been in the middle of nearly every conversation about safety and justice in Cook County, often with a polarizing fervor.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near zeal

Cite this Entry

“Zeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zeal. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on zeal

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