fanatic 1 of 2

noun

fə-ˈna-tik How to pronounce fanatic (audio)
Definition of fanaticnext
1
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something football fanatics are pretty much booked up for weekends from Labor Day to Super Bowl Sunday

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in partisan
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause once he joined the movement, he became a fanatic

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fanatic

2 of 2

adjective

fə-ˈna-ti-kəl How to pronounce fanatic (audio)
variants or fanatical
as in extreme
being very far from the center of public opinion because of her fanatical views, her friends know better than to try to discuss the issues with her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fanatic
Noun
The title references an Islamic hadith that is meant to shine a light on Ali’s character’s moral hypocrisies and the religious fanatics who surround him in the film. — John Ross, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026 The psycho fanatics have a microphone now, which was inconceivable 20 years ago. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Loftis, played by Matthew Rhys, is a figure of quietly fanatical secularism and non-ghost-ism. — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 There is a fanatical element among those who want to ban horse carriages. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fanatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanatic
  1. lover
  2. partisan
  3. extreme
  4. fan
  5. militant
  6. radical
  7. enthusiast
  8. crusader
Noun
  • Art lovers should aim to be there in April when Joali hosts its annual Imagi-Nature Art Festival.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The undead hero initially turns agains the X-Men and serves Apocalypse, but Gambit’s lover Rogue is able to save him by harnessing the enormous power of a Celestial and offering to sacrifice herself.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • Republicans at the hearing sought to portray Smith as a partisan who abused his authority to target Republicans.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Eventually, Sinclair partisans took matters into their own hands by heckling the fake newsreels and disrupting screenings.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of partisan
Adjective
  • Without intervention, those numbers will only grow as extreme events worsen.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Kenya's National Transport and Safety Authority called upon all motorists to exercise extreme caution, avoid dangerous overtaking and strictly observe lane discipline.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of extreme
Noun
  • Self also spoke to the fans and answered a few questions after practice.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
  • After most of the sellout crowd filed out Wednesday, one solitary Sox fan stood at his seat under the press box, shouting obscenities about the Guardians and the city of Cleveland.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fan
Noun
  • Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,467 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire was reached with Hamas nearly a year ago, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which doesn't give a breakdown of civilians and militants.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Videos from that day showed militants gunning down fleeing revelers, shooting the wounded at point-blank range and ambushing those seeking refuge in bomb shelters.
    — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • The president also suggested that Talarico is far too radical for the Lone Star State.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Zirin states that Zinn was never an official party member, but his association with radical politics might have been enough to limit his job prospects.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of radical
Noun
  • In the ‘90s, Golod worked with Pet Television Network as co-chairman and co-owner of a cable and satellite service aimed toward animal enthusiasts.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Snowboarders and skiing enthusiasts from around the world travel there for the pillowy snow on its mountains.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of enthusiast
Noun
  • This isn't Cloud's first time acting as a courtside moral crusader, either.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The star has dedicated himself with the fervor of a holy crusader to the notion that, to quote his ex-wife, we are not just entertained but reborn when the lights go down and our collective dreams show up onscreen.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of crusader

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Cite this Entry

“Fanatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanatic. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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