Zealous

mediumPositive tone

ZEL-us

adjective

Definition

Having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause

Memory hook

ZEAL-ous: Full of ZEAL -- like a sports fan who paints their face for every game.

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Word roots

zeloszeal, ardor(Greek)

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Examples

She was zealous in her support of environmental causes.
The zealous fans cheered loudly for their team.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

She was ______ in her support of environmental causes.
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zealous

Synonyms

ferventpassionateardententhusiastic

Antonyms

apatheticindifferentdispassionatelukewarm

Categories

View all Enthusiasm words

GRE Tip

Zealous is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "fervent" or "passionate" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "apathetic".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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