zealot

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. fanatic, addict, fan (inf.); visionary, dreamer, enthusiast; bigot; devotee, partisan. See heterodoxy, piety.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

Syn. partisan, fan, bigot, fanatic, enthusiast, lobbyist, devotee, dogmatist, opinionist, missionary, fighter, cultist, follower, disciple, propagandist, plugger*, bitter-ender*, crank*, addict*, bug*, faddist*, fiend*.

Syn.- zealot implies extreme or excessive devotion to a cause and vehement activity in its support [zealots of reform ] ; fanatic suggests the unreasonable overzealousness of one who goes to any length to maintain or carry out his or her beliefs [ a temperance fanatic] ; an enthusiast is one who is animated by an intense and eager interest in an activity, cause, etc. [ a sports enthusiast] ; bigot implies blind and intolerant devotion to a creed, opinions, etc. [ a religious bigot]

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

fanatic, enthusiast, devotee, extremist, radical, *nut, champion, disciple, dogmatist, believer, crackpot.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. One zealously devoted to a religion: devotee, enthusiast, fanatic, sectary, votary. See BELIEF, LOVE, RELIGION. 2. A person who is ardently devoted to a particular subject or activity: bug, devotee, enthusiast, fanatic, maniac. Informal: buff2, fan2, fiend. Slang: freak, nut. See CONCERN. 3. One who holds extreme views or advocates extreme measures: extremist, fanatic, radical, revolutionary, revolutionist, ultra. See EDGE, CONCERN, POLITICS.