fanatic Definition
a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause.
Using fanatic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "fanatic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was a religious fanatic who would stop at nothing to convert others to his beliefs.
Example
The political fanatic refused to listen to any opposing views.
Example
She was such a sports fanatic that she never missed a game.
Example
The environmental fanatic protested outside the factory every day.
fanatic Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using fanatic
Example
She is a fanatic about fitness and exercises every day.
a fair-weather fan
a person who supports a sports team only when they are winning
Example
He is not a true fan of the team; he's just a fair-weather fan who jumps on the bandwagon when they're doing well.
Example
The politician's speech only served to fan the flames of hatred and division.
Phrases with fanatic
a person who is extremely devoted to a particular religion and is often intolerant of other religions
Example
The religious fanatic refused to attend his daughter's wedding because it was not held in a church.
a person who is extremely devoted to a particular political ideology and is often intolerant of opposing views
Example
The political fanatic refused to vote for anyone who did not share his extreme views.
Example
The sports fanatic painted his entire house in the colors of his favorite team.
Origins of fanatic
from Latin 'fanaticus', meaning 'insanely but divinely inspired'
Summary: fanatic in Brief
The term 'fanatic' [fəˈnætɪk] refers to a person who is excessively and single-mindedly zealous, often for an extreme religious or political cause. Examples include the 'religious fanatic,' 'political fanatic,' and 'sports fanatic.' The idiom 'fanatic about something' denotes extreme enthusiasm, while 'a fair-weather fan' describes someone who only supports a team when they're winning. 'Fan the flames' means to make a bad situation worse.