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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
Chris Groshong, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
This is not a game; until the kooks and zealots rampaging over the public health infrastructure are constrained, many people could die.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
But the Democratic coalition, and thus all the important institutions in his state, is run by zealots on the trans issue.
—The Editors, National Review, 4 June 2025
Critics argued that Angel was essentially goosing its own box office receipts by persuading a passionate fan base to bankroll phantom tickets: enamored zealots shelling out for empty seats.
—Calum Marsh, New York Times, 9 Apr. 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 31 Jul. 2025.
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zealot
noun
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