zeal

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun zeal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of zeal are ardor, enthusiasm, fervor, and passion. While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

preaches with fanatical zeal

When is ardor a more appropriate choice than zeal?

While in some cases nearly identical to zeal, ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

Where would enthusiasm be a reasonable alternative to zeal?

The words enthusiasm and zeal can be used in similar contexts, but enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

never showed much enthusiasm for sports

When could fervor be used to replace zeal?

While the synonyms fervor and zeal are close in meaning, fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

read the poem aloud with great fervor

When can passion be used instead of zeal?

The synonyms passion and zeal are sometimes interchangeable, but passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

was a slave to his passions

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 zeal In my experience, a mindset grounded in collective and shared ownership, blended with zeal, curiosity and experimentation, is usually a better alternative. Venkat Rao, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Prior to 2025, his patriotic zeal had been a cornerstone of his personal brand. Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 Other college football coaches often gesture at this hierarchy; Swinney conveys it with an evangelist’s zeal. Paige Williams, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025 The group’s zeal permeated to subsequent topics, providing a concrete example of Discover PB president Randall Engstrom’s observation on the purpose of a united community. Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for zeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zeal
Noun
  • When beating, whip with vigor using a fork instead of a whisk.
    Megan Zhang, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The Gilded Heiress dips into the world of the wealthy, but its primary focus is on the working-class, which Shupe renders with electric vigor in a genre so often dominated by those breathing rarefied air.
    EW.com, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Her passion spread more during the pandemic when some things were hard to get so Quigley began growing her own lettuce.
    Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • To wit, Andrea Tarella has succeeded in transforming his passion for drawing into a profession, working with brands ranging from Prada and Gucci to Valentino.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Originally self-published, Until the World Falls Down constellated enthusiasm on TikTok in the weeks following its publication, ultimately leading to a three-book deal with a publisher.
    Logan Karlie September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
  • But when the Republican voters lack enthusiasm, as in 2022, Democrats go into the fall with a clear advantage.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The county Board of Supervisors directed the changes in response to concerns that had long existed for a small faction of grassroots activists but took on new fervor after the 2024 election — when voters installed three new Republican members of the board.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The 1960s marked a significant pivot in cultural mores, from the adherence to convention both socially and stylistically at the dawn of the decade to the age of antiestablishment fervor and personal empowerment as the period progressed.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Zeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zeal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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