Zeal

n.energetic, hopefulformal

What it means

Strong, energetic devotion to a purpose or activity.

Reach for it when praising sustained enthusiasm when judgment and respect remain intact

Their zeal for restoring the theater attracted skilled volunteers.

playful
fire
when lively inner intensity deserves an informal metaphor
not when Fire can imply anger or burnout and is unsuitable for careful analysis.
everyday
eagerness
when readiness and anticipation are the visible qualities
not when Eagerness is lighter and may fade once difficult work begins.
warm
enthusiasm
when eager positive interest is the simple quality
not when Enthusiasm can be brief or recreational, while zeal suggests stronger devotion.
warm
passion
when deep personal commitment and feeling drive the work
not when Passion is broader and can concern art, love, or anger without purposeful service.
professional
dedication
when sustained follow-through matters more than visible emotion
not when Dedication can be quiet and disciplined, while zeal is energetic.
professional
drive
when motivation produces action and results
not when Drive can be self-interested or compulsive and lacks zeal's cause-focused devotion.
literary
ardor
when intense warmth of feeling suits elevated prose
not when Ardor can sound romantic or overheated in professional praise.
literary
fervor
when emotional intensity around a cause is central
not when Fervor can become heated or uncritical and is stronger than measured zeal.

great zeal
She pursued the archive search with great zeal and careful source notes.
religious zeal
The historian described religious zeal without assuming it justified coercion.
zeal for reform
Their zeal for reform included listening to people harmed by the old system.

Zeal can become rigid, intrusive, or harmful when conviction outruns evidence, consent, or limits.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.