zeal

noun

ˈzēl 

: eagerness and enthusiastic interest in pursuit of something : fervor

patriotic/religious zeal

his zeal for life

showed great zeal and enthusiasm in their work

The young musicians played with … exuberant zeal.

—Mark Swed

… they took office with an undisguised zeal to do everything differently …

—The Boston Globe

In their zeal to seem smart, students miss the opportunity to learn.

—Stephen Friedman

Choose the Right Synonym for zeal

passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action.

passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

gave in to his passions

fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

read the poem aloud with great fervor

ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

never showed much enthusiasm for sports

zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

preaches with fanatical zeal

Examples of zeal in a Sentence

… he was uncomfortable with their lavish parties and their collector's zeal for the most expensive, most ostentatious brand names—Rolex and Prada and Farragamo. —Anne Tyler, Digging to America, 2006

In 1248, channelling his piety into crusading zeal, Louis embarked on the Seventh Crusade, against the wishes of the Pope and against the judgement of his counsellors. —Alistair Horne, Seven Ages of Paris, 2002

He showed his anatomical zeal by robbing a wayside gibbet, smuggling the bones back home and reconstructing the skeleton. —Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, 1997

Recent Examples on the Web

The zeal of his lieutenants—Lee Zeldin, at the Environmental Protection Agency; the former fracking executive Christopher Wright, at the Department of Energy; and others—has been remarkable. —Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2025

This understates the conflict’s stakes and in particular the risk of rewarding and thereby normalizing Russia’s zeal to control Ukraine. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025

Zuckerberg has since entered that category with similar zeal. —Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025

In the workplace, on the playing surface or in the stands, zeal without guardrails becomes a threat to safety, reputation and the sport product itself. —Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English zele, from Late Latin zelus, from Greek zēlos

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing zeal

• missionary zeal

Rhymes for zeal

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• eel
• feel
• feil
• heal
• heel
• keel

Kids Definition

zeal

noun

ˈzē(ə)l 

: eager desire in going for a goal