zeal

noun

Definition of zealnext
as in vigor
a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something She attacked her homework with renewed zeal after getting her first A. a politician known for his zeal for reform

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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 While most would chalk Phil's zeal up to just being an old-school kind of guy, some fans postulate that the Shah of Iran is actually a closeted homosexual himself, and there are a few examples to back this up. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026 As Prime Minister, Howard—a lifelong conservative who has lived abroad once, campaigning for the Tories in London—was known for having an almost schoolboy zeal for the job. — Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Erdozain writes with a poet’s concision but a maximalist’s zeal, leaving no room in his historical account for any doubt that American exceptionalism has been a singularly detrimental force. — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026 Yet from No Child Left Behind through the push for the Common Core into today’s zeal for science of reading, policy leaders are frustrated that the version of policy that occurs in the classroom does not match their vision. — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for zeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zeal
  1. vigor
  2. passion
  3. enthusiasm
  4. fervor
Noun
  • Deadheading helps redirect energy to the plant, improving overall vigor and reducing disease risk.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 June 2026
  • The crowd shook her car with such vigor that the 23-year-old Westminster resident couldn’t turn up the music like people shouted at her to do.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Definition of vigor
Noun
  • Mars and Uranus’ alignment inspires you to follow your passions, but be mindful of the risks involved!
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Just don’t mistake them for the biggest Fourth of July fans — their passion is history, not patriotic celebrations.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of passion
Noun
  • Despite the crypto down market, Securitize is riding a wave of enthusiasm for tokenization as Wall Street increasingly experiments with blockchains.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Neon wisely positioned itself as the exact right home for that enthusiasm with an inventive promotional tour that included, among other stops, a free gas giveaway.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of enthusiasm
Noun
  • Undersea experiments continued, but never again with the same scale and fervor as the 1960s, and with little support from NASA.
    — Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
  • After months of speculation and tabloid fervor, pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will hold a wedding celebration at New York City’s Madison Square Garden this week, two sources told CNN on Tuesday.
    — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Definition of fervor

Browse Nearby Words

zaps
zeal
zealot
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Cite this Entry

“Zeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zeal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on zeal

Nglish: Translation of zeal for Spanish Speakers

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