Meaning & use

fanaticism

noun·Advanced

Extreme, uncritical enthusiasm or devotion to a cause, belief, or activity.

See it in a sentence

His fanaticism for the team led him to travel across the country for every game.

Religious fanaticism sometimes drives people to extreme and even violent actions.

A note on using this word

'Fanaticism' usually implies an unreasonable or excessive degree of devotion, distinguishing it from ordinary enthusiasm or passion.

Words with a similar meaning

zealotryextremism

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fanaticism”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.