fanatic

[fəˈnætɪk]

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

Synonyms for fanatic

• zealot
• extremist
• radical
• militant
• enthusiast

Antonyms for fanatic

• moderate
• skeptic

Idioms Using fanatic

• fanatic about something

  to be extremely enthusiastic or passionate about something

  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.

• fan the flames

  to make a bad situation worse, especially by stirring up emotions or conflict

  Example

  The politician's speech only served to fan the flames of hatred and division.

Phrases with fanatic

• religious 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.

• political fanatic

  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.

• sports fanatic

  a person who is extremely devoted to a particular sport or sports team

  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'

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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.