ZEALOT Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

zealot

noun

ˈze-lət

Definition of zealot

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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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 zealot Coverage of the story dovetailed with a hail of memes and insinuations online that Crockett is a zealot or a pretend cowboy out of his depth. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Democrats looking for a way to reclaim their party can find inspiration in the career of Neil Kinnock, who in the mid-1980s rescued the British Labour Party from a determined band of sectarian zealots. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026 Traditional safety zealot Phil Koopman points out that the public would not accept a system that cuts fatalities by 80% but the remaining ones are all children. — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Garrett says the new protocols acknowledge that academic institutions have the responsibility to take steps for the safety of their researchers and protect them from potentially dangerous interactions with conspiracy theorists and other reactionary zealots. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for zealot

Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealot

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

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

Noun

Rights groups and activists say repression has worsened in the period since.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
The organizers included women’s sports activist Amy Sousa and commentator Brandi Kruse, who previously helped organize rallies supporting WNBA player Sophie Cunningham.

— Matt Calkins , Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of activist

Noun

Although the hockey mask never appears, Kane lovingly re-creates exact scenes from the original movie to offer flashes of eye candy to Jason fanatics.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
The blueprint included the recruitment of mercenaries and exploiting the grievances of disaffected citizens, from religious fanatics and extremists to soccer fans.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of fanatic

Browse Nearby Words

zeal

zealot

zealotry

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“Zealot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealot. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of zealot

noun

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