Zealous
What it means
Showing intense and energetic devotion to a purpose.
Reach for it when praising committed advocacy or work when care and judgment constrain the intensity
The zealous advocate checked every citation before the hearing.
Words to choose between 8
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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| literary |
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everyday
Fits when readiness to begin is more important than endurance
Careful Eager is milder and can disappear after the first difficulty.
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warm
Fits when eager positive energy is enough
Careful Enthusiastic is lighter and need not involve sustained devotion.
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warm
Fits when strong personal feeling drives action
Careful Passionate can be impulsive and says less about disciplined devotion.
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professional
Fits when allegiance and follow-through should sound controlled
Careful Committed is less forceful and allows more visible qualification.
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professional
Fits when reliable long-term work is the evidence
Careful Dedicated may be quiet and lacks zealous intensity.
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formal
fanatical
Fits when excessive, uncritical devotion is genuinely the criticism
Careful Fanatical is negative and must never replace constructive zeal merely because intensity is high.
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literary
Fits when elevated prose suits intense support or love
Careful Ardent can sound romantic and overstate measured commitment.
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literary
Fits when deeply felt conviction is central
Careful Fervent can sound religious or emotionally heated.
Opposites 3
- apathetic
- indifferent
- lukewarm
Common phrases 3
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zealous advocate
A zealous advocate, Mara still revised her claim when the evidence changed.
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zealous supporter
The zealous supporter respected the artist's request for privacy.
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zealous pursuit
Zealous pursuit of safety must still protect due process.
Word family 2
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Zealous often carries a warning of excess. Name the disciplined or respectful behavior that keeps devotion constructive.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, public domain Updated