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zealot

noun

ˈze-lət How to pronounce zealot (audio)
Definition of zealotnext
as in partisan
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause zealots on both sides of the issue resorted to name-calling and scare tactics

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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 zealot Traditional safety zealot Phil Koopman points out that the public would not accept a system that cuts fatalities by 80% but the remaining ones are all children. — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Garrett says the new protocols acknowledge that academic institutions have the responsibility to take steps for the safety of their researchers and protect them from potentially dangerous interactions with conspiracy theorists and other reactionary zealots. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 12 June 2026 March 13, 2026 For Gen Z neophytes and hardcore fans overseas (South Asian and Nigerian Mike zealots apparently have a lot to say on the matter), the idea of MJ/Prince ever being a rivalry is laughable. — Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026 The drama takes place in a dystopian future where the American government has been overthrown by evangelical religious zealots. — Tanya Melendez, Entertainment Weekly, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for zealot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealot
  1. partisan
  2. militant
  3. crusader
  4. activist
  5. fanatic
Noun
  • Harald paid tribute to the Norwegian partisans who had fought alongside the Soviets during World War II, helping to restore the memory of a segment of the population that had long been marginalized in the official narrative of the war.
    — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This week’s Pollwatcher answers a reader’s question about how polls select respondents and highlights how partisans in one state have flipped on a Democratic senator.
    — Scott Clement, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of partisan
Noun
  • The advances would give the militants a stronger position to disrupt oil flows through the strait, which connects the southern Red Sea to global markets.
    — Spencer Kimball,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in 2003, accused of developing and directing the 9/11 attacks, as a leader of the Islamic militant group al-Qaida.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of militant
Noun
  • Sybylla’s bridge to her potential new future is most often her grandmother’s unlikely best friend, Augusta (Kate Mulvany), a wealthy crusader for women’s causes who decides to champion Sybylla’s literary ambitions.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Steinem became known not as a crusader for women but as a former bunny.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of crusader
Noun
  • The event will also honor the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed one year ago on Thursday.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Young activists regularly post on social media from county fairs and Republican committee meetings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of activist
Noun
  • Well ahead of the game's launch, Wizards of the Coast is betting big on the IP, with tabletop adventures, novels, and a Secret Level short introducing RPG fanatics to its universe.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That’s good news for autumnal fanatics, as this foliage-rich route—lined with maples, oaks, birches, and more—becomes postcard-perfect each October.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fanatic

Browse Nearby Words

zeal
zealot
zealotry
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Cite this Entry

“Zealot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealot. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on zealot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about zealot

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