GRE vocabulary
zeal
intense enthusiasm or passionate devotion to a cause or pursuit
Word origin: From Greek zelos, ardor or jealousy.
In a sentence
Zeal in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing zeal in a sentence.
She pursued the campaign with such zeal that no obstacle could discourage her.
The volunteers pursued the cleanup with a zeal that shamed the officials who had merely funded it.
Usage & nuance
Using “zeal” well
Zeal denotes intense enthusiasm or passionate devotion to a cause or pursuit, generally admiring but able to tip into excess. It is the opposite of apathy or indifference.
Keep going
See all More GRE words starting with Z
Common questions
Questions about “zeal”
Zeal (noun) means intense enthusiasm or passionate devotion to a cause or pursuit
Here is zeal used in an example sentence: "She pursued the campaign with such zeal that no obstacle could discourage her." Another example: "The volunteers pursued the cleanup with a zeal that shamed the officials who had merely funded it."
Common synonyms for zeal include fervor, ardor, passion, eagerness.
Antonyms of zeal include apathy, indifference, lethargy.
Clusters with fervor, ardor, and passion in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms apathy, indifference, and lethargy mark the contrasting choice.
Yes. Zeal is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.
Learn words the way the GRE tests them.
Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.