zealous

/ˈzɛl.əs/

Group 5Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Having or showing zeal; fervent
GRE

Example in Context

The prosecutor's zealous pursuit of the case raised concerns about whether the investigation had been conducted with appropriate restraint.

Synonyms

passionatefervententhusiastic

Etymology

Having fervent passion or enthusiasm — full of zeal.

  • zelos (Greek) — zeal

Memory Aid

🔥Sounds like “zeal-less

A person so ZEALOUS about their favorite band they’re practically on FIRE, while everyone else is just ZEAL-LESS!

Visual Association

🎉A crowd going wild at a concert, everyone passionately singing along except for one person yawning.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “zealous” mean on the GRE?

zealous (adjective) means “Having or showing zeal; fervent”. The prosecutor's zealous pursuit of the case raised concerns about whether the investigation had been conducted with appropriate restraint.

How to remember “zealous” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “zealous” sounds like “zeal-less”. A person so ZEALOUS about their favorite band they’re practically on FIRE, while everyone else is just ZEAL-LESS!

What are synonyms for “zealous”?

Common synonyms: passionate, fervent, enthusiastic.