fanaticism

noun

fa·​nat·​i·​cism fə-ˈna-tə-ˌsi-zəm 

: fanatic outlook or behavior

Examples of fanaticism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just think how much better for Iran and for the whole world if there was a popular and legitimate democratic government in Tehran more interested in improving the lot of the Iranian people than waging war in the name of religious fanaticism. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026

As teased previously, there's a thin line between fighting for the greater good and religious fanaticism in the name of peace. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025

Grande was Wen’s latest target, but there seems to be an additional layer of delusion and fanaticism that fueled this particular encounter. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025

Some of this slashing and burning can be explained by the old-fashioned small-government fanaticism of administration personnel like Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. —Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fanaticism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism

Medical Definition

fanaticism

noun

fa·​nat·​i·​cism fə-ˈnat-ə-ˌsiz-əm 

: fanatic outlook or behavior especially as exhibited by excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions on some subject