FANATICISM Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

fanaticism

noun

Definition of fanaticism

as in zeal

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Dissimilar Words

as in dogmatism

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fanaticism But the beauty of the beautiful game is that millions of dollars and people don’t guarantee success, that there’s a difference between a soccer-playing nation and a soccer nation, that passion and culture and fanaticism matter. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026 Even after the glow of the Cup has faded, opportunities to plug into Scotland’s football fanaticism will continue. — Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026 Global warming led to international tensions, and a mixture of religious fanaticism and failures in governance gave way to nuclear annihilation. — Ian Stokes, Space.com, 24 May 2026 Even OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, the current darlings of generative-AI fanaticism, will become subdued if their firms survive. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fanaticism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanaticism

Noun

Known for his exacting, couture-like approach, and an experimental zeal rare among designers at Europe’s largest luxury brands, the Frenchman got his start in fashion by filing, photocopying and cataloguing fabrics at Jean Paul Gaultier.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
Legendary computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton warned AI could wipe out humanity as a mere byproduct of its zeal to accomplish a more innocent task.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of zeal

Noun

When authenticity becomes uncompromising, candor turns belligerent, consistency becomes rigid, or principled decision-making morphs into dogmatism, even the best intentions can backfire.

— Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
By staying so close to black metal’s core sound, Marchenko does more to undermine the dogmatism—both racial and aesthetic—of Vikernes and his ilk than a more obviously experimental project might.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026

Definition of dogmatism

Noun

Chalk it up to my obsession with Twin Peaks, affinity for mossy landscapes, and lifelong fascination with all things misty and mystic; the Pacific Northwest has always felt like a second home.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
When Seungil says the visits are over for good, Minjeong grabs Ppoppo on impulse and hides out at a friend’s place, where her joy soon tips into obsession.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of obsession

Noun

Vest’s campus roots Ma, 25, became interested in crypto derivatives while studying finance and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
His philosophy posits that nature should be the focus of any space, and this is true—trappings frame and do not distract from the views.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of philosophy

Noun

Naturally, that infatuation translated into a very cool stage name — a name that is becoming rightfully well-known.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026
Coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979, limerence describes a state of extreme infatuation fueled by a prolonged yearning for approval or reciprocation.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of infatuation

Noun

There are data centers measured in miles and retirement accounts soaring from the stock market’s AI mania.

— Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
At least Mark Zuckerberg had the decency to be duplicitous, Altman is just openly consumed by the mania of trying to win the most important technological arms race since the atom bomb.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of mania

Noun

For Ted Baehr, having a woman portray Aslan is a direct challenge to Christian doctrine on the nature of God.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Religion Perhaps the biggest case of the term so far, in terms of ripple effects, involves religion, a subject on which the court's conservative super majority has dramatically changed its legal doctrine.

— Nina Totenberg, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of doctrine

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“Fanaticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanaticism. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fanaticism

noun

Example Sentences

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