: 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
Mark Swed… they took office with an undisguised zeal to do everything differently …—The Boston Globe
The Boston GlobeIn their zeal to seem smart, students miss the opportunity to learn.—Stephen Friedman
Stephen FriedmanExamples 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
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
That unique tone, captured with zeal by a charismatic ensemble led by Fred Ward, Kevin Bacon, and Reba McEntire, is what makes Ron Underwood's horror-comedy about giant worms terrorizing a remote desert town such a good hang.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
But Chernus talks at us with the condescending zeal of a true music-lover, and his cheeky tirades about the history of jazz — and why Jarrett’s gift for improvisation is unique even in the context of such a freeform genre — are entertaining and educational in equal measure.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The employees’ zeal was, in part, an acknowledgment of the space race that has heated up between the United States and China.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Carl’s zeal for the outdoors began at an early age.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zeal
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Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
But Chernus talks at us with the condescending zeal of a true music-lover, and his cheeky tirades about the history of jazz — and why Jarrett’s gift for improvisation is unique even in the context of such a freeform genre — are entertaining and educational in equal measure.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The employees’ zeal was, in part, an acknowledgment of the space race that has heated up between the United States and China.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Carl’s zeal for the outdoors began at an early age.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zeal
Cite this Entry
“Zeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeal. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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zeal
noun
: eager desire in going for a goal
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