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Heretic vs Fanatic - What's the difference?

heretic | fanatic |

As nouns the difference between heretic and fanatic

is that heretic is someone who, in the opinion of others, believes contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion he claims to belong to while fanatic is a person who is zealously enthusiastic for some cause, especially in religion.

As adjectives the difference between heretic and fanatic

is that heretic is heretical; of or pertaining to heresy or heretics while fanatic is fanatical.

heretic

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic), (obsolete), heretick (obsolete), (l) (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Someone who, in the opinion of others, believes contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion he claims to belong to.
  • * '>citation
  • In the framework of traditional medical ethics, the patient
    deserves humane attention only insofar as he is potentially
    healthy and is willing to be healthy—just as in the framework
    of traditional Christian ethics, the heretic deserved humane
    attention only insofar as he was potentially a true believer and
    was willing to become one. In the one case, people are
    accepted as human beings only because they might be healthy
    citizens; in the other, only because they might be faithful
    Christians. In short, neither was heresy formerly, nor is sick-
    ness now, given the kind of humane recognition which, from
    the point of view of an ethic of respect and tolerance, they
    deserve.

    Synonyms

    * apostate * withersake

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (archaic) Heretical]]; of or pertaining to heresy or [[#Noun, heretics.
  • Antonyms

    * orthodox

    Anagrams

    * ----

    fanatic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * fanatick (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Fanatical.
  • * T. Moore
  • But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast / To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last.
  • (obsolete) Showing evidence of possession by a god or demon; frenzied, overzealous.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who is zealously enthusiastic for some cause, especially in religion.
  • See also

    * fan * crank

    Quotations

    * A zealot can't change his mind. A fanatic can't change his mind and won't change the subject. — (attributed) * A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim. —