zealot

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noun zeal·ot \ˈze-lət\

: a person who has very strong feelings about something (such as religion or politics) and who wants other people to have those feelings : a zealous person

Full Definition of ZEALOT

1

capitalized :  a member of a fanatical sect arising in Judea during the first century a.d. and militantly opposing the Roman domination of Palestine

2

:  a zealous person; especially :  a fanatical partisan <a religious zealot>

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Examples of ZEALOT

1. <zealots on both sides of the issue resorted to name-calling and scare tactics>

Origin of ZEALOT

Late Latin zelotes, from Greek zēlōtēs, from zēlos

First Known Use: 1537

Related to ZEALOT

Synonyms

crusader, fanatic, ideologue (also idealogue), militant, partisan (also partizan), red hot, true believer

Antonyms

nonmilitant

Related Words

activist; dreamer, idealist, visionary; cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, idolizer, votary; addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué (also habitue), head, hound, junkie (also junky), lover, maniac, maven (also mavin), nut, sucker; advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, patron, promoter, stalwart, supporter; booster, rooter, well-wisher; faddist

Near Antonyms

dabbler, dilettante

Rhymes with ZEALOT

helot, pellet