OVERZEALOUS Meaning and
Definition
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Overzealous is an adjective that describes someone who demonstrates excessive enthusiasm, fervor, or intensity towards a particular belief, cause, or activity. This term indicates a level of motivation or dedication that exceeds what is considered reasonable or appropriate in a given situation. An overzealous person tends to be excessively eager or passionate, often to the point of being overly zealous, zealous being a synonym for fervent or ardent.
Individuals who are overzealous may demonstrate an extreme desire to achieve a specific goal, relentlessly pursuing it with unwavering determination. They may exhibit an excessive willingness to go above and beyond the expected norms and may become overly involved or consumed by their pursuits. This zealotry often leads to an intense focus on a particular topic, ideology, or task, sometimes overshadowing everything else.
While some level of enthusiasm and dedication is commendable and can lead to positive outcomes, when taken to extremes, overzealous behavior can become problematic. It may result in an imbalance of priorities, neglecting other aspects of life to solely pursue a single goal. Others may perceive overzealous individuals as obsessive, fanatical, or even irrational, as their fervor can blind them to alternative perspectives or compromise their judgment.
Overall, the term overzealous conveys a sense of excessive passion and dedication, highlighting individuals who are driven to extreme measures beyond what is typically considered reasonable in their pursuits.
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* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for OVERZEALOUS
Etymology of OVERZEALOUS
The word "overzealous" has its origins in the combination of two separate words: "over" and "zealous".
1. "Over" comes from the Old English word "ofer" which means "beyond" or "more than". It is also related to the German word "über".
2. "Zealous" originates from the Greek word "zēlos" meaning "ardor, passion, or fervor". It was later adopted into Late Latin as "zelus" and then derived into the Old French word "zelos" before becoming "zealous" in Middle English.
Combining these two words, the term "overzealous" emerged, connoting excessive or too much zeal, fervor, or enthusiasm. The word is commonly used to describe someone who is excessively enthusiastic or overly eager, often in a negative context.
Similar spelling words for OVERZEALOUS
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