Meaning of the word “zealous”: synonyms, antonyms

The meaning of the word "zealous", synonyms and antonyms for it, examples of use - the topic of the article.

Definition

Vladimir Dahl explains the meaning of the word “zealous” as follows: hot, quick-tempered, impetuous and zealous. This adjective is applicable to a person if his actions were previously mentioned in the text. For instance:

• zealous defender (defending someone violently);
• zealous supporter (selflessly defended the point of view);
• zealous hunter (hunted hard).
• zealous participant (enthusiastically participated in something).

This adjective is not used to describe personality traits. It characterizes the attitude to any action, occupation. But fiction does not recognize any stylistic norms. In such texts, the word "zealous" can occur in any form. It is worth saying that this adjective is inherent in the artistic style.

Synonym

What concept is opposite in meaning to the adverb “zealously”? The meaning of the word is passionate, zealous, quick-tempered, energetic, active. Each of these words serves as a synonym in a specific context. For example, a person can participate both zealously and actively.

In literary texts, both the adverb “zealously” and words rooting to it are found. Examples:

1. The enlighteners arrived at the foundation of the school surprisingly zealously.
2. He had to curb the zeal of his bay horse.
3. Without his zealous support, nothing would have been achieved.
4. She zealously defended her beliefs even after she lost the last defender.

Antonyms

Opposite to this word concepts: lazy, passive. By an adverb one can pick up such antonyms as “reluctantly”, “sluggishly”, “without enthusiasm”. Examples:

1. She zealously rejected all his proposals, and he listlessly insisted on his own.
2. The players were pretty tired and turned from zealous participants into passive observers.

Now you understand the meaning of the word "zealous."