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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Recent Examples of zealot
Clara Molot talks to the zealots who are holding the line.
—
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
Americans tended to see him as a religious zealot.
—Alex Shams, Time, 14 Mar. 2026
Co-founder Raymond Cogan was a fan from his first ride, but became a zealot about a year later after hearing another cyclist putting the popular bike club down.
—Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
Lydia, naturally, has her own reasons for pairing Agnes and Daisy together, evolving from a ruthless zealot and disciplinarian in Handmaid’s Tale into a kind of double agent looking to overthrow Gilead from within the hallowed halls of power in Testaments, as the finale set her up to do.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zealot
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
Americans tended to see him as a religious zealot.
—Alex Shams, Time, 14 Mar. 2026
Co-founder Raymond Cogan was a fan from his first ride, but became a zealot about a year later after hearing another cyclist putting the popular bike club down.
—Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
Lydia, naturally, has her own reasons for pairing Agnes and Daisy together, evolving from a ruthless zealot and disciplinarian in Handmaid’s Tale into a kind of double agent looking to overthrow Gilead from within the hallowed halls of power in Testaments, as the finale set her up to do.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zealot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealot
Noun
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Republicans are all in on giving away goodies to their co-partisans and fermenting a code that looks like Swiss cheese.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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The economy overall Beyond the personal, partisans have slightly different takes on what's happening to the state's economy.—
Anthony Salvanto,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Separatist fighters on Saturday joined Islamic militants in launching one of the biggest coordinated attacks on the Malian army in the capital and several other cities, which left an unknown number of militants dead and at least 16 people wounded, including civilians, the government said.—
Wilson Mcmakin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Israel and Lebanon yesterday agreed to extend a ceasefire by three weeks, though some clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants have continued, with each accusing the other of breaching the agreement.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Over one year after the death of her fellow anti-Scientology crusader, ex-church official, and Emmy-winning Scientology and the Aftermath collaborator Mike Rinder, actress and former Scientologist Leah Remini has opened up about the pain of living life without her longtime friend.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
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Among other things, the New York Times story portrayed Lively as Hollywood’s latest #MeToo crusader, courageously exposing workplace abuses against women.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Bike activists in this city have, to our minds, successfully enhanced the lot of cyclists in Chicago and are fully entitled to keep pushing for more reasonable improvements.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Animal activists are pressing the Los Angeles City Council to continue funding a program that provides exercise and play time for dogs confined in city animal shelters.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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In 2025, the eatery was voted among the Top 50 sports bar in Charlotte, cementing itself as a go-to spot for sports fanatics, CharlotteFive previously reported.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
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Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, the Duffer Brothers were early film fanatics, reportedly creating their first feature film in the fourth grade.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zealot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealot. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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