Fanaticism Meaning
/fəˈnæt.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe characteristic or practice of being a fanatic.
Sentence Examples
Fanaticism is a monster a thousand times more dangerous than philosophical atheism.
Passion can be destructive and ferocious when it is motivated by fanaticism and racism.
Hezbollah fighters are known for their bravery and fanaticism.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Religious ____ can lead people to abandon reason and embrace extremism.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The government is trying to combat religious ____ that leads to violence and social unrest.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Latin fānāticuslbor. ▲ French fanatiqueinflu. English fanatic Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English fanaticism From fanatic + -ism.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The demon of fanaticism was the shape which it took with us; and verily, what with religious republicans, harmonists, quakers, fifth-monarchy men, presbyterians, and the reign of the saints upon earth, it needs the strong hand of a Cromwell to reduce the spiritual chaos to any sort of order."
— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter III, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 35:
"Witch-hunting became a mania, with all the abuses and excesses which invariably develop with fanaticism."
— 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 88:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Religious ____ can lead people to abandon reason and embrace extremism.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The government is trying to combat religious ____ that leads to violence and social unrest.