FANATIC Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

fanatic 1 of 2

noun

fə-ˈna-tik

Definition of fanatic

as in lover

a person with a strong and habitual liking for something football fanatics are pretty much booked up for weekends from Labor Day to Super Bowl Sunday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in partisan

one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause once he joined the movement, he became a fanatic

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fanatic

2 of 2

adjective

fə-ˈna-ti-kəl

variants or fanatical

as in extreme

being very far from the center of public opinion because of her fanatical views, her friends know better than to try to discuss the issues with her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fanatic

Noun

Matthieu Blazy’s offering of 83 different shoes styles on the Chanel runway is a fashion fanatic’s dream. — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026 NBCUniversal‘s Peacock is rolling out up a new way to try to get Bravo fanatics even more engaged in the network’s galaxy of reality programming drama and dish-worthy moments. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Coaching searches are, at best, farcical, the truth lying somewhere between fans’ fanatical wishes, reported contacts and actual interviews. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 And for those of you who’ve spent many happy hours laughing at the Road Runner getting the better of his fanatical pursuer, you’ll be touched to discover that the two have a mutual respect and are even — gasp — friends. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fanatic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanatic

Noun

Overton, however, claimed that both informants were lying — and that the semen found on the comforter was planted on the scene by a spurned ex-lover with connections to the police department.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
The professionalization worked, but at the expense of the site’s internal culture, Cooke argues, as generous eccentrics were displaced by neurotic lovers of rules.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of lover

Noun

But the clean provenance and their New York highlife has never appeased Pooh partisans who think Fifth Avenue is much too far from the Hundred Acre Wood.

— STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Overwhelming shares of partisans support their party’s candidates – 98% of Democratic likely voters and 96% of Republican likely voters each support their party candidates.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of partisan

Noun

Adding to regional worries, Yemen's Houthi militants claimed responsibility on Monday for strikes targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield and airports in Riyadh and Abha.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Despite Riyadh’s considerable air defenses and vast military spending, the militants have been able to outsmart the systems using relatively cheap drones and missiles.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of militant

Adjective

For now, both exhibitors and producers are watching closely to see whether the violence will become a recurring problem in the run-up to the presidential election, with the far right and radical left parties leading in polls.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Preserving our constitutional republic from radical Islam means accepting the costs that come with it—name-calling, threats, and worse.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of radical

Noun

The blog got picked up by a larger Brooklyn real estate website, Brownstoner, and developed a dedicated online following of architecture enthusiasts and aspiring DIYers.

— Sophie Caldwell,Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Egyptology enthusiasts and other visitors stood in a messy single-file line with phone cameras in hand, some with selfie sticks and most with bags under their eyes from waking up so early.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthusiast

Noun

What happened to the committed father, community pillar, and righteous crusader who saved the day in Season 1?

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
In the last couple of decades, the social justice crusader worked with Angelenos to develop their own voices through writing workshops.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of crusader

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Style

“Fanatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanatic. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fanatic

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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