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In the 1st century A.D., a fanatical sect arose in Judaea to oppose the Roman domination of Palestine. Known as the Zealots, they fought their most famous battle at the great fortress of Masada, where 1,000 defenders took their own lives just as the Romans were about to storm the fort. Over the years, zealot came to mean anyone who is passionately devoted to a cause. The adjective zealous may describe someone who's merely dedicated and energetic ("a zealous investigator", "zealous about combating inflation", etc.). But zealot (like its synonym fanatic) and zealotry (like its synonym fanaticism) are used disapprovingly—even while Jews everywhere still honor the memory of those who died at Masada.
Examples of zealot in a Sentence
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
But among this more tolerant company, Aurangzeb is considered something of a dark horse – a religious zealot and complex character.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Call me a zealot for my newfound religion, but this format TikTok and its copycats are employing, this isn’t just a format for a particular kind of social app.
—Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025
The show has turned new fans into believers and pre-existing fans into zealots.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zealot
Cite this Entry
“Zealot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zealot. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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zealot
noun
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