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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 zealous
Meanwhile, Harris welcomed her endorsement by Dick Cheney, who was not a very popular vice president but was a zealous defender of torturing Muslims.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
After Diego Lopes’ finish of Steve Garcia in the opener, beer rained from the sky as zealous fans threw cups — doubling as a nod of gratitude to the clouds overhead, which held back from dumping actual rain and thunderstorms that had threatened the evening.
—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
One by one, Pryor named 42 defendants who had been caught up in sting operations by zealous investigators who manufactured crack cocaine and sold it, arresting the buyers at the end of the process.
—
Rafael Olmeda,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
The nearness of the zealous asteroid Eris in Aries adds a touch of drama and intensity to the cosmic atmosphere.
—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for zealous
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
After Diego Lopes’ finish of Steve Garcia in the opener, beer rained from the sky as zealous fans threw cups — doubling as a nod of gratitude to the clouds overhead, which held back from dumping actual rain and thunderstorms that had threatened the evening.
—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
One by one, Pryor named 42 defendants who had been caught up in sting operations by zealous investigators who manufactured crack cocaine and sold it, arresting the buyers at the end of the process.
—
Rafael Olmeda,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
The nearness of the zealous asteroid Eris in Aries adds a touch of drama and intensity to the cosmic atmosphere.
—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for zealous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealous
Adjective
-
Goldberg, a fervent fan of the Boys in Blue, is the founder of the Echo Park Spiritual Outreach community, Nefesh.
-
Rivaling artificial intelligence super PACs are seeking to affect the candidacy of Alex Bores, a New York state Assemblyman, who has been a fervent supporter of AI regulations.
Adjective
-
But it's been on the court where Hargitay has proved to be one of Brunson's most enthusiastic supporters, frequently attending Knicks games at Madison Square Garden.
-
Here’s help The Tartan Army took over Miami Scottish fans are enthusiastic, rambunctious, loud and — more than anything — organized.
Adjective
-
Even the most ardent defenders of this basics-first approach acknowledge that some buildings will never be habitable without active cooling.
-
Kyiv and its allies may be feeling pretty good about the present state of the war with Russia, but an intense historical feud has reignited, threatening relations between Ukraine and one of its most ardent backers.
Adjective
-
The Democrats are also passionate about the Constitution, the rule of law and due process — all high ground positions.
-
Even in some of the big, seemingly soulless companies, there’s a lot of really passionate people who want to make art.
Cite this Entry
“Zealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealous. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
