zeal Hear it!

zeal Definition

zeal (zēl)

noun

intense enthusiasm, as in working for a cause; ardent endeavor or devotion; ardor; fervor

Etymology: ME zele < LL(Ec) zelus, zeal, emulation < Gr zēlos, zeal, ardor < IE base *yā-, to be excited, praise > OSlav jaru, furious

zeal Synonyms

zeal

n.

  1. Enthusiasm

    ardor, eagerness, fervor; see enthusiasm 1.

  2. Industry

    earnestness, hustle, hustling, bustle, bustling, intensity, industry, willingness, inclination, application, determination, promptitude, dispatch, diligence, perseverance, assiduity, intentness, readiness, aptitude, enterprise, initiative, push*, hop*, what-it-takes*, stick-to-itiveness*; see also attention 2, care 1, cooperation 1.

    Antonyms idleness*, slackness, indolence. See syn. study at enthusiasm.enthusiasm.

zeal Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • crusade: This great emperor was now nearly seventy years old, yet age had not lessened his crusading zeal.
  • reform: Reforming zeal Stephens now saw his life's work clearly.
  • show: Already Wesley had begun to show a zeal for souls.
  • have: We have the zeal, we know the Cross.

Adjective modifier

  • evangelistic: Nor yet that in later days he would have carried his evangelistic zeal into wider fields.
  • apostolic: To you, dear Brother Bishops, I commend this Year, confident that you will welcome my invitation with full apostolic zeal.
  • patriotic: Patriotic zeal is not a ' fruit of the Spirit ' .
  • messianic: Messianic zeal, nationalism and myth came together to justify the savagery of the colonial shock troops let loose in the country.
  • fanatical: Indeed, they were considered its best grounds; and the lawyers defended them with fanatical zeal.
  • evangelical: Yet, most people are in the Matrix - defending house prices with evangelical zeal.

Noun used with modifier

  • missionary: On the contrary, fuelled with missionary zeal, they followed their biblical ancestors in the conquest of the holy land.
  • burning: The old burning zeal has become what I call solar ethics.
  • campaigning: Despite ill health in recent years, his campaigning zeal had remained undimmed.

Preposition: in

  • cause: No true Mason scoffs at honest convictions and an ardent zeal in the cause of Truth and Justice.

Preposition: of

  • lord: The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
  • house: The zeal of thy house ( says he ) hath eaten me up.

Preposition: for

  • glory: Every aspect of Welsh's ministerial effort at Ayr was marked by extraordinary zeal for the glory of God, and by careful circumspection.
  • reform: His zeal for reform and the sharp discernment of his mind shine through the language of his official acts.
  • law: That is the level of zeal for the law that Paul had.

Browse dictionary entries near zeal

  1. ZDSF
  2. ZC
  3. ZB
  4. zazen
  5. zayin
  6. zarzuela
  7. zarf
  8. zareba
  9. zaratite
  10. Zaragoza
  1. Zealand
  2. zealot
  3. zealous
  4. zealously
  5. zebec
  6. Zebedee
  7. zebra
  8. zebra crossing
  9. zebra finch
  10. zebra fish