zeal

Definition of zealnext

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 That zeal, her daughter explains, also defined the way Ladd led her life away from the cameras — and fueled her devotion to Beyond the Scars. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026 Teammates who spoke to the Register said Roberts’ zeal did not annoy them. Tyler Jett, Des Moines Register, 21 Jan. 2026 Trump knows it, but still took a stab from his privileged bully pulpit in Switzerland with the zeal of neocolonialism. Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Jan. 2026 The appointees competed to demonstrate loyalist zeal. Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for zeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zeal
Noun
  • Suckers can be stimulated to grow for a variety of reasons, such as the vigor of a plant’s root system in situations where the plant is grafted (as many non-native witchhazels and tree cultivars are).
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2026
  • As in as soon as the game was over, with Adebayo marching a phone down to Ware’s locker space at Capital One Arena, with vigor almost as fierce as the dunk itself.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Lilies symbolize promise, passion, life and fidelity.
    Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The 17-year-old Buzbee, a student at Hamilton Southeastern High School, was known for her big smile, generosity, ease with people and passion for journalism.
    Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The test of whether organizations will translate that enthusiasm into political wins won't come until November.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Hardware enthusiasm While there are doubts about the software industry, Wall Street has resounding confidence that hardware companies are AI winners.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The salesperson in the custom knife shop with a $1,200 pizza cutter on offer — albeit the most beautiful pizza cutter I, personally, have ever seen — said that more customers had started to trickle in now that the fervor on Main Street had died down and the roads were clearer.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Mickela Mallozzi dances with the same fervor that Anthony Bourdain brought to eating, that Sam Brown brings to vacationing, and that Rick Steves brings to doing Europe on a shoestring.
    Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Zeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zeal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on zeal

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