zealot
2 synonyms for zealot, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone so committed to a cause or belief that they pursue it with extreme, often unreasonable intensity.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use zealot
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
religious zealot
political zealot
a zealot for the cause
Etymology
From Greek zēlōtēs ("zealous follower"), from zēlos ("zeal"); originally the name for a fierce anti-Roman Jewish faction before it became a general word for any fanatic.
Full origin of zealot →Frequently asked questions
What does “zealot” mean?
The word “zealot” means someone so committed to a cause or belief that they pursue it with extreme, often unreasonable intensity. In plain terms, someone whose devotion to a cause tips into fanaticism.
How do you pronounce “zealot”?
“Zealot” is pronounced ZEHL-uht (/ˈzɛl.ət/ in IPA).
How do you use “zealot” in a sentence?
Here is “zealot” used in a sentence: “The reform movement was hijacked by a handful of zealots.”
What part of speech is “zealot”?
“Zealot” is a noun.
Where does the word “zealot” come from?
The word “zealot” comes from Greek. From Greek zēlōtēs ("zealous follower"), from zēlos ("zeal"); originally the name for a fierce anti-Roman Jewish faction before it became a general word for any fanatic.
How many meanings does “zealot” have?
“Zealot” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone so committed to a cause or belief that they pursue it with extreme, often unreasonable intensity.
