ZEALOTS Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

zealots

noun

plural of zealot

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of zealots Continue reading … POWER RECLAIMED — Congress moves to unshackle states from California's ‘climate zealots’. — FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Democrats looking for a way to reclaim their party can find inspiration in the career of Neil Kinnock, who in the mid-1980s rescued the British Labour Party from a determined band of sectarian zealots. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026 Garrett says the new protocols acknowledge that academic institutions have the responsibility to take steps for the safety of their researchers and protect them from potentially dangerous interactions with conspiracy theorists and other reactionary zealots. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 12 June 2026 March 13, 2026 For Gen Z neophytes and hardcore fans overseas (South Asian and Nigerian Mike zealots apparently have a lot to say on the matter), the idea of MJ/Prince ever being a rivalry is laughable. — Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026 Bo-Katan explains the Mandalorians who raised Din and taught him to never show his face are religious zealots known as the Children of the Watch, who broke from Mandalorian society. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 May 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for zealots

Noun

In such seats, the primary becomes the real election, a dynamic that tends to favor the coronation of extremely polarizing nominees since, typically, that electorate is composed of committed partisans.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Eventually, Sinclair partisans took matters into their own hands by heckling the fake newsreels and disrupting screenings.

— Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of partisans

Noun

Despite Riyadh’s considerable air defenses and vast military spending, the militants have been able to outsmart the systems using relatively cheap drones and missiles.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
It was used in combat in 2017 against ISIS militants in Afghanistan.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of militants

Noun

The book is full of stories of villains, like the venomous heroin that took so many of Seattle’s crusaders as well as the music industry that never quite understood where Soundgarden belonged.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 June 2026
The facility remains popular among anti-immigrant crusaders, and Attorney General Uthmeier’s campaign store sells Alligator Alcatraz bumper stickers, T-shirts, and caps.

— Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Definition of crusaders

Noun

There is no sign that anyone but Khanna or Ocasio-Cortez is moving towards a new Gaza answer that activists might prefer.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of activists

Noun

While Musk fanatics expressed their excitement on social media, the Roadster isn't likely to have any material financial impact on the company.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
NBCUniversal‘s Peacock is rolling out up a new way to try to get Bravo fanatics even more engaged in the network’s galaxy of reality programming drama and dish-worthy moments.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of fanatics

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zealotry

zealots

zealous

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“Zealots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zealots. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of zealots

noun

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