: eagerness and enthusiastic interest in pursuit of something : fervor
patriotic/religious zeal
his zeal for life
showed great zeal and enthusiasm in their work
The young musicians played with … exuberant zeal.—
Mark Swed
Mark Swed… they took office with an undisguised zeal to do everything differently …—The Boston Globe
The Boston GlobeIn their zeal to seem smart, students miss the opportunity to learn.—Stephen Friedman
Stephen FriedmanExamples of zeal in a Sentence
… he was uncomfortable with their lavish parties and their collector's zeal for the most expensive, most ostentatious brand names—Rolex and Prada and Farragamo.
—Anne Tyler, Digging to America, 2006
In 1248, channelling his piety into crusading zeal, Louis embarked on the Seventh Crusade, against the wishes of the Pope and against the judgement of his counsellors.
—Alistair Horne, Seven Ages of Paris, 2002
He showed his anatomical zeal by robbing a wayside gibbet, smuggling the bones back home and reconstructing the skeleton.
—Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, 1997
Anne Tyler, Digging to America, 2006
In 1248, channelling his piety into crusading zeal, Louis embarked on the Seventh Crusade, against the wishes of the Pope and against the judgement of his counsellors.
—Alistair Horne, Seven Ages of Paris, 2002
He showed his anatomical zeal by robbing a wayside gibbet, smuggling the bones back home and reconstructing the skeleton.
—Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, 1997
Recent Examples on the Web
His dedication to his craft and his competitiveness fueled his zeal for the win at the cookoff.
—Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Queenstown has no shortage of adventure activities that square a zeal for exhilaration with a scenic backdrop.
—New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The difference between the energy of the machine that resolutely crosses the cordillera and the tiny zeal in the wings of an insect that asks only for leaves to eat and mud in which to house her eggs.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
What is clear is that Florida, amid its leaders’ zeal to lead the nation in immigration enforcement, is throwing a lot of state taxpayer money at what was long considered a federal issue.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zeal
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Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Queenstown has no shortage of adventure activities that square a zeal for exhilaration with a scenic backdrop.
—New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The difference between the energy of the machine that resolutely crosses the cordillera and the tiny zeal in the wings of an insect that asks only for leaves to eat and mud in which to house her eggs.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
What is clear is that Florida, amid its leaders’ zeal to lead the nation in immigration enforcement, is throwing a lot of state taxpayer money at what was long considered a federal issue.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zeal
Cite this Entry
“Zeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeal. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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zeal
noun
: eager desire in going for a goal
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