Havelock EllisScott Buchanan
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Zealous vs. Jealous
Zealous and jealous share not just a rhyme, but an etymology. Both words ultimately come from the Latin zelus “jealousy,” and in the past their meanings were somewhat closer to each other than they are today. In the 16th and 17th centuries, zealous occasionally was used in biblical writing to refer to a quality of apprehensiveness or jealousy of another. By the 18th century, however, it had completely diverged in meaning from jealous, signifying “warmly engaged or ardent on behalf of someone or something.” Today, zealous often carries a connotation of excessive feeling: it typically means “fiercely partisan” or “uncompromisingly enthusiastic.”
Examples of jealous in a Sentence
Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
This doesn’t sit well with Mia’s very jealous ex-boyfriend Connor (Aramis Knight, oozing villainy as if to the Karate Kid manor born), who gives Li a black eye with a vicious sucker punch.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
Additionally, in one more piece of the prosecution’s often plodding building of the criminal case, Clark spoke of her then jealous boss Combs’ beef with Kid Cudi.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 May 2025
Diddy was accused of blowing up Kid Cudi’s car in a jealous rage
Shortly after finding out about their relationship, Combs allegedly threatened to blow up Mescudi's car, as detailed in the lawsuit.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for jealous
Cite this Entry
“Jealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jealous. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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