noun

• 1A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

  ‘He says there have always been religious zealots, but modern technology has given them a lethal capacity.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The level of delusion here eclipses that of the most fanatical of religious zealots.’
  • ‘Creationism often conjures visions of religious zealots who believe the book of Genesis verbatim.’
  • ‘There will never be a time for reason when religious zealots believe they have control of this country.’
  • ‘When he talks about the case, he sounds less like a zealous advocate than a political zealot.’
  • ‘People said he didn't support faith, an interesting claim since others labeled him a religious zealot.’
  • ‘Do religious zealots regularly cry ‘scum’ when they pass him by on the street?’
  • ‘Reams of unsolicited e-mail are generated daily by religious zealots.’
  • ‘The religious zealots see rai music as the apotheosis of a secular culture they consider lewd and impious.’
  • ‘Does anybody else see the logic error in stating that religious zealots wanted to create a secular nation?’
  • ‘Indeed through history there have been religious wars where zealots have perpetrated atrocities in the name of their religion.’
  • ‘No nation has freedom when it is run by religious zealots.’
  • ‘The conversation was taking on the kind of circularity I've experienced in arguments with religious zealots.’
  • ‘The Mater zealots have created an ideal opportunity for change.’
  • ‘I can't get the image of Glen and several religious zealots on the tire swing out of my mind.’
  • ‘Both appear to agree that religious zealots should be regarded as the authentic voice of their faith.’
  • ‘How did the respective religions allow such zealots to gain such followings?’
  • ‘The Religious zealot vehemently opposes curiosity or concern for anyone outside their circle.’
  • ‘The partisan crowd was waiting silently in anticipation as religious zealots would for a messiah.’
  • ‘The only people who cite the Columbia study are kooks and religious zealots.’

  Synonyms

  fanatic, enthusiast, extremist, radical, Young Turk, diehard, activist, militant

  View synonyms

• 2

  (also Zealot)

  historical A member of an ancient Jewish sect that aimed at a world Jewish theocracy and resisted the Romans until AD 70.

  ‘After Herod's death in 4 BC, Masada was captured by the Romans, but in ad 66 Jewish Zealots took it by surprise and occupied it.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The Jewish Zealots at Massada committed suicide rather than be defeated and taken into slavery by the Romans.’
  • ‘The Zealots were leading members of the revolt against Rome in 66-70 AD and at Masada they committed suicide rather than surrender to the Roman Tenth Legion.’
  • ‘His friend Judas urges him to join the cause of the Zealots, rebels against Roman occupation.’