Zealous

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈzÉ›l.É™s/
• Rhymes: -É›lÉ™s

Alternative forms

• zelous

Origin

From Ancient Greek ζήλος (zēlos, "zeal, jealousy"), from ζηλόω (zēloō, "to emulate, to be jealous").

Full definition of zealous

Adjective

1. Full of zeal; ardent, fervent; exhibiting enthusiasm or strong passion.
• 1791, James Boswell, The life of Samuel Johnson, new ed. (1831) by , volume 1, page 238:Johnson was truly zealous for the success of "The Adventurer;" and very soon after his engaging in it, he wrote the following letter:
• 1896, Andrew Dickson White, A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom (2004 edition), page 122:Doubtless many will exclaim against the Roman Catholic Church for this; but the simple truth is that Protestantism was no less zealous against the new scientific doctrine.
• 1940, Foster Rhea Dulles, America Learns to Play: A history of popular recreation, 1607-1940, page 61:...and there were few more zealous dancers at the fashionable balls in the Raleigh Tavern at Williamsburg.
• 2011 April 4, "Newt Gingrich," Time (retrieved 9 Sept 2013)Newt Gingrich . . . left Congress in 1998, following GOP midterm-election losses that many blamed on his zealous pursuit of Bill Clinton's impeachment.

Synonyms

• (full of zeal) ardent, eager, enthusiastic, fervent, passionate, zealotic

Antonyms

• (full of zeal) apathetic, dispassionate, indifferent, unenthusiastic

Derived terms

Related terms