Definition of zeal
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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 of zeal from the Web
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Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the panel, has shown an increasing zeal for pursuing the question after an uncertain start.
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Douglass said, speaking of the Confederacy and the zeal of its leaders to preserve the institution of slavery.
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Related: Police have also expressed more serious concerns about safety, considering the teenagers' zeal for ambushing or fleeing each other.
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Their zeal gives them some of the hallmarks of a cult: individuality is sacrificed for the greater good and orders are followed with few questions.
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To see the West Bank and East Jerusalem today, as Chabon and Waldman’s contributors did, is to encounter a military occupation that is deeply entrenched, while settlers, filled with zeal, are constantly and steadily expanding their enterprise.
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The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile are the Draconians who think up rules even Melvin Belli couldn’t get around and enforce them with such zeal a Catholic school nun would shake her head at the injustice.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'zeal'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of zeal
Middle English zele, from Late Latin zelus, from Greek zēlos
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of zeal
ZEAL Defined for English Language Learners
zeal
playDefinition of zeal for English Language Learners
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: a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something
ZEAL Defined for Kids
zeal
playDefinition of zeal for Students
: eager desire to get something done or see something succeed Feeling better, she attacked her homework with renewed zeal. — Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy
Learn More about zeal
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See words that rhyme with zeal Spanish Central: Translation of zeal Nglish: Translation of zeal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of zeal for Arabic speakers
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