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fanatic
/ fəˈnætɪk /
noun
- a person whose enthusiasm or zeal for something is extreme or beyond normal limits
- informal.a person devoted to a particular hobby or pastime; fan
a jazz fanatic
adjective
- a variant of fanatical
Other Words From
- nonfa·natic noun adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of fanatic1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Parker Davis of Hardy Californians is a landscape designer and native plant fanatic, but he also has a flair for fashion.
Still, this isn’t your typical Friday night for sports fanatics.
It started with the Supreme Court’s ruling in a lawsuit brought by a passel of antiabortion fanatics that aimed to roll back the Food and Drug Administration’s approvals of mifepristone dispensing by mail.
We have people who are opposed to scientific knowledge about the world, and who are totally committed to fanatic ideas of theocracy, superstition and religion, that have nothing to do with reality.
“She was a big sports fanatic and always said I’d do special things, and I wanted to make her proud.”
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More About Fanatic
What does fanatic mean?
A fanatic is a person with an extreme and often unquestioning enthusiasm, devotion, or zeal for something, such as a religion, political stance, or cause.
This sense of the word is typically used negatively to imply that someone takes such devotion too far, as in They’re considered religious fanatics due to their extreme practices. Close synonyms are extremist, radical, and zealot.
Other times, fanatic is not used negatively but instead simply refers to someone who is extreme in their devotion or enthusiasm for an interest or hobby. For example, calling someone a sports fanatic means they’re an extremely enthusiastic fan of sports. In fact, the word fan is a shortening of fanatic.
Less commonly, fanatic can be used as an adjective meaning the same thing as fanatical—having and motivated by extreme enthusiasm or devotion.
Example: We dismiss them as fanatics, but their beliefs may be more widespread than we think.
Where does fanatic come from?
The first records of the word fanatic come from around 1530. It comes from the Latin fānāticus, meaning “pertaining to a temple, inspired by divinity, frantic.”
The devotion and enthusiasm of a fanatic goes beyond normal interest. It’s intense, extreme, and often unconditional, meaning it will probably continue no matter what—even in spite of evidence that such fanatical beliefs are wrong or dangerous.
Even when fanatic is not used in a negative way and simply refers to a fan, it often implies that someone is a die-hard fan who will continue to support the subject of their fandom no matter what.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to fanatic?
- fanatical (adjective)
- fanaticism (noun)
- fanaticize (verb)
What are some synonyms for fanatic?
What are some words that share a root or word element with fanatic?
What are some words that often get used in discussing fanatic?
How is fanatic used in real life?
When used negatively, fanatic is especially used in the context of religion and politics. When it’s used to mean “huge fan,” it’s especially used in the context of sports.
No form of education or exposure can reform a tribalistic and religious fanatic. It's a lost cause.
— EIBRO (@Kaylonati) August 23, 2020
By living a focused life. Great achievers stayed focused on their goal. They are so single-minded that they are often considered fanatics.
— marvin andrews (@marvellous_77) November 24, 2014
I'm a college basketball fanatic. I live in lexington ky and it's the biggest college basketball community. It's like a sin to not like basketball here 😂
— Casey (@caseyleighwit) April 14, 2018
Try using fanatic!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of fanatic?
A. devotee
B. extremist
C. opponent
D. radical
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