as in fervent
feeling or showing strong and energetic support for a person, cause, etc.; filled with zeal
zealous fans She was one of the president's most zealous supporters. The detective was zealous in her pursuit of the kidnappers.
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Recent Examples of zealous
Since his first hearing, Higgins’ lawyers have filed a string of motions to dismiss charges and bar evidence against their client from trial as part of a zealous defense.
—
Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Since the library’s books all date from before 1755, a major job here is preservation, and the zealous doorkeeper opens the big front door sparingly to keep out humidity.
—Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
The Washington Post has a long history of zealous support for robust press freedoms.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
Admittedly, conversations might be a bit zealous, but that is the tenor of the day.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zealous
Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Since the library’s books all date from before 1755, a major job here is preservation, and the zealous doorkeeper opens the big front door sparingly to keep out humidity.
—Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
The Washington Post has a long history of zealous support for robust press freedoms.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
Admittedly, conversations might be a bit zealous, but that is the tenor of the day.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zealous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealous
Adjective
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This propulsive documentary follows Climate Defiance and founder Michael Greenberg’s unabashedly disruptive protests, expressing their fervent and urgent demands for climate action in the spaces — and faces — of industry executives and politicians exacerbating the crisis.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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The reality is that Medicare and Social Security enjoy fervent public support.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Boomer is particularly enthusiastic to introduce the world to the latter actress, who previously appeared in Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans and Prime Video's Hunters.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
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Chinese people, particularly younger ones, have long been enthusiastic about wordplay.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The most ardent supporters of the KMT, a political party opposed to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, are often members of older generations who continue to identify culturally as Chinese.—
Michelle Kuo,
The Dial,
14 Apr. 2026
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Even the most ardent proponents of AI are concerned.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Trotsky himself had seen that the pragmatist follower who lacks true belief usually ends up on the other side; a passionate believer who lacks pragmatic planning skills usually ends up dead.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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In his speech during the trophy ceremony, McIlroy dedicated a passionate thank you to his family sitting in the front row.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealous. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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