Dictionary Definition
fanatic adj : marked by excessive enthusiasm for
and intense devotion to a cause or idea; "rabid isolationist" [syn:
fanatical, overzealous, rabid] n : a person motivated by
irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause); "A fanatic is one who can't
change his mind and won't change the subject"--Winston Churchill
[syn: fiend]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
First attested in 1525. From etyl la fanaticus from fanum. Influenced by fanatique.Pronunciation
- /fəˈnæt.ɪk/, /f@"n
Extensive Definition
Fanaticism is an emotion of being filled with
excessive, uncritical zeal,
particularly for an extreme religious or political cause, or with an
obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby.
According to philosopher
George
Santayana, "Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when
you have forgotten your aim"; according to Winston
Churchill, "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and
won't change the subject". By either description the fanatic
displays very strict standards and little tolerance.
The difference between a
fan and
a fanatic is that while both have an overwhelming liking or
interest in a given subject, behaviour of a fanatic will be viewed
as violating prevailing social norms,
while that of a fan will not violate those norms (although is
usually considered unusual).
A fanatic differs from a
crank in
that the latter term is typically associated with a position or
opinion which is so far from the norm as to appear ludicrous and/or
provably wrong, while the subject of the fanatic's obsession may well be
"normal", with only the scale of involvement being abnormally
disproportionate.
Categories of fanaticism
- consumer fanaticism - the level of involvement or interest one has in the liking of a particular person, group, trend, artwork or idea.
- religious fanaticism - considered by some to be the most extreme form of religious fundamentalism.
- political, ideological fanaticism.
- ethnic, national, racial fanaticism.
- leisure fanaticism - high levels of intensity, enthusiasm, commitment and zeal shown for one's leisure activities.
- Haynal, A., Molnar, M. and de Puymege, G. 1987."Fanaticism. A Historical and Psychoanalytical Study".Schoken Books. New York.
- Rudin, J. 1969.Fanaticism. A psychological Analysis. University of Notre Dame Press. London.
fanatic in Bulgarian:
Фанатизъм
fanatic in Danish:
Fanatisme
fanatic in German:
Fanatismus
fanatic in Estonian:
Fanatism
fanatic in Modern Greek
(1453-): Φανατισμός
fanatic in Spanish:
Fanatismo
fanatic in French:
Fanatisme
fanatic in Italian:
Fanatismo
fanatic in Lithuanian:
Fanatizmas
fanatic in Dutch:
Fanatisme
fanatic in Norwegian:
Fanatisme
fanatic in Japanese:
熱狂
fanatic in Uzbek:
Mutaassiblik
fanatic in Polish:
Fanatyzm
fanatic in Portuguese:
Fanatismo
fanatic in Romanian:
Fanatism
fanatic in Russian:
Фанатизм
fanatic in Slovak:
Fanatizmus
fanatic in Finnish:
Fanaattisuus
fanatic in Swedish:
Fanatism
fanatic in Ukrainian:
Фанатизм
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
Christian, God-fearing man,
accepter, addict, aficionado, alien, aliene, ass, bedlamite, believer, bigot, bitter-ender, borderline
case, buff, bug, bullethead, case, catechumen, character, chauvinist, churchgoer, churchite, churchman, collector, communicant, convert, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, daily communicant, dement, demon, demoniac, devotee, devotionalist, diehard, disciple, doctrinaire, dogmatist, donkey, eager beaver, eccentric, energumen, enthusiast, extremist, faddist, fan, fanatico, fiend, flake, follower, fou, freak, good Christian, great one
for, hardnose, hermit, hobbyist, hobo, hound, idiot, illiberal, infatuate, intolerant, intransigeant, intransigent, jingo, kook, last-ditcher, lone wolf,
loner, loon, loony, lunatic, lunatic fringe,
madman, male chauvinist,
maniac, maverick, meshuggenah, monomaniac, mule, natural, neophyte, noncompos, nonconformist, nut, odd fellow, oddball, oddity, original, outsider, pariah, perverse fool, phrenetic, pietist, pig, pighead, positivist, proselyte, purist, pursuer, queer duck, queer fish,
queer specimen, rabid,
racist, radical, rara avis, raving
lunatic, receiver,
religionist,
revolutional,
revolutionary,
revolutionist,
rhapsodist, saint, screwball, sexist, solitary, standpat, standpatter, stickler, sucker for, superpatriot, theist, tramp, truster, type, ultra, ultraist, ultranationalist,
visionary, votary, weirdo, zealot