zeal

plural zeals

1. countableuncountableThe fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.

   She extols the virtues of veganism with missionary zeal.

   5 more examples

   I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 10:2

   Zeal, the blind conductor of the will

   1687, [John Dryden], “The Third Part”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 96

   […] the highest zeal in religion and the deepest hypocrisy, so far from being inconsistent, are often or commonly united in the same individual character.

   1779, David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, part 12, pages 143–144

   [He] would begin admiring her drawings with so much zeal and so little knowledge as seemed terribly like a would-be lover,

   1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 14, in Emma: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC, page 250

   It [Troutbeck] has religious isolation also, for it is several miles—and very strenuous miles in winter—from the parish church at Mungrisdale, and the introduction of the harmonium to the waiting room was due to the zeal of a vicar of many years ago who, in the absence of any other room in the village, obtained permission to use the premises for services, including Sunday School. Most of his successors have continued this self-sacrificing duty.

   1951 October, “Notes and News: The Harmonium at Troutbeck”, in Railway Magazine, page 709

   Synonyms: ardour, eagerness, enthusiasm, intensity, passion · Antonyms: apathy

2. countableobsoleteuncountableA person who exhibits such fervour or tireless devotion.

   […] like a malicious purblinde zeale as thou art!

   1614, Ben Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, London: Robert Allot, act v, scene 5, page 85

   1 more example

   […] there are questionlesse both in Greeke, Roman and Africa Churches, solemnities, and ceremonies, whereof the wiser zeales doe make a Christian use, and stand condemned by us;

   1642, Thomas Browne, Religio Medici, London: Andrew Crooke, page 5

   Synonyms: zealot

3. collectivecountableuncountableA group of zebras.

   I loved seeing a zeal of zebras.

   2018 September 21, Lisa Ellen Niver, “Where Did I Travel on My First African Safari?”, in Jewish Journal, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026

   3 more examples

   A zeal of zebras confuses predators. Each zebra has a different set of stripes.

   2012, Alex Kuskowski, Zeal of Zebras: Animal Groups on an African Safari, →ISBN, page 8

   Zebras can also be called a herd or a zeal.

   2019 June 6, “A gaggle, a confusion and a conspiracy - bizarre animal collective group names”, in BBC, archived from the original on 01 Apr 2021

   These three were a part of a zeal of 30 zebras.

   2021 October 15, Julia Craven, “Everything We Know About the Maryland Zebras On the Run”, in Slate.com, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026

   Synonyms: dazzle, herd

1. uncommonuncountableA light zomp.