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Zeal vs Earnestness - What's the difference?

zeal | earnestness | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between zeal and earnestness

is that zeal is the fervor or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest while earnestness is the quality of being earnest; sincerity; seriousness.

zeal

English

Noun

  • The fervor or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
  • * Dryden
    • Zeal , the blind conductor of the will.
  • * Bible, Romans x. 2
    • I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
  • (obsolete) A zealot.
    • (Ben Jonson)

    Synonyms

    * (fervor) ardor, eagerness, enthusiasm, intensity, passion

    Antonyms

    * (fervor) apathy

    Derived terms

    () * zealot * zealotic * zealotical * zealotry * zealous * zealously * zealousness

    Related terms

    * jealous * jealousy

    Anagrams

    *

    earnestness

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The quality of being earnest; sincerity; seriousness.
  • * 22 March 2012 , Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Games [http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/]
  • *:She’s joined, on the boys’ side, by Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), a baker’s son whose earnestness masks a gift for strategy that Katniss lacks.