as in partisans
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
zealots on both sides of the issue resorted to name-calling and scare tactics
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Recent Examples of zealots
The apocalyptic religious zealots who ran the Iranian police state were on the verge of complete construction of a nuclear bomb.
—
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Clara Molot talks to the zealots who are holding the line.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
That title goes to the government of messianic zealots, Arab-hating nationalists and anti-modern ultra-Orthodox Israelis put together by Netanyahu to keep himself in power.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Public health often responds that MAHA supporters like Elizabeth, Melinda, and Nancy have been hoodwinked by social media influencers, grifters, and anti-vaccine zealots.
—Tom W. Johnson, STAT, 26 Jan. 2026
In rip-roaring zombie sequel, Sir Jimmy Crystal leads a gang of murderous zealots known as the Jimmies.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026
Then there are the Muslims depicted as religious zealots.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
In that vacuum, religious zealots and cults manifest, nihilism thrives, and families are torn apart.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
For weeks, Oasis zealots have devoured online videos of the siblings strolling out onstage together, arms raised in victory and hugs brief yet genuine.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Clara Molot talks to the zealots who are holding the line.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 17 Mar. 2026
That title goes to the government of messianic zealots, Arab-hating nationalists and anti-modern ultra-Orthodox Israelis put together by Netanyahu to keep himself in power.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Public health often responds that MAHA supporters like Elizabeth, Melinda, and Nancy have been hoodwinked by social media influencers, grifters, and anti-vaccine zealots.
—Tom W. Johnson, STAT, 26 Jan. 2026
In rip-roaring zombie sequel, Sir Jimmy Crystal leads a gang of murderous zealots known as the Jimmies.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026
Then there are the Muslims depicted as religious zealots.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
In that vacuum, religious zealots and cults manifest, nihilism thrives, and families are torn apart.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
For weeks, Oasis zealots have devoured online videos of the siblings strolling out onstage together, arms raised in victory and hugs brief yet genuine.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealots
Noun
-
This rhetoric is not just the thoughtless ramblings of mindless partisans.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
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Republicans are all in on giving away goodies to their co-partisans and fermenting a code that looks like Swiss cheese.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The teens were also said to have been involved in online groups recruiting fighters for IS militants in Syria and shared a fascination with violence and hatred against Jews, LGBTQ+ people and others, officials said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The separatists have been fighting for years to create an independent state in northern Mali, while militants aligned with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group have been fighting the government for more than a decade.—
Wilson Mcmakin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Anti-porn crusaders of all ilks also hijacked the news of Radvinsky’s passing for their various pro-censorship agendas.—
Gustavo Turner,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
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But the 76-year-old congressman from New York is one of Washington’s few prominent crusaders against the sports-betting industry.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The state’s two largest public pension systems, which Cohen sits on the board of, have not divested from fossil fuels despite activists urging the funds to do so.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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The casual acknowledgement of brushing off offers of bribes alarmed some Republican activists, who will endorse a candidate for governor at their state convention on May 16.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, the Duffer Brothers were early film fanatics, reportedly creating their first feature film in the fourth grade.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Does anyone really think Maura Healey and Markey are Dunkin Donuts fanatics?—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zealots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealots. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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