Ardor vs. Zeal — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 2, 2024
Ardor conveys intense warmth of feeling, often romantic, whereas zeal refers to fervent or enthusiastic pursuit, typically of a cause or goal.
Difference Between Ardor and Zeal
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Key Differences
Ardor is characterized by its deep emotional intensity and is often associated with love or strong enthusiasm. Zeal, on the other hand, specifically denotes energetic and diligent pursuit of an objective or cause.
While ardor may fade with the cooling of emotions or passing of time, zeal is often sustained by a commitment to achieving specific goals or ideals.
Ardor can be seen as more personal and subjective, tied closely to individual feelings and passions. Zeal is more objective, linked to external activities and efforts directed towards a cause or mission.
In literary contexts, ardor is used to describe scenarios of passionate affection or fervor in personal relationships. Conversely, zeal is frequently invoked in discussions about religious, political, or social activism.
Both ardor and zeal are powerful drivers of human behavior but are distinguished by the contexts in which they are typically used: personal feelings for ardor and goal-oriented actions for zeal.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Intense warmth of feeling, passion
Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective
Typical Context
Romantic, personal
Religious, political, social causes
Duration and Stability
Often temporary, varies with emotion
Usually sustained, linked to long-term goals
Subjectivity
Highly subjective, personal
More objective, linked to external activities
Usage in Literature
Describes deep, emotional scenarios
Often used in contexts of activism and fervor
Compare with Definitions
Ardor
Intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal.
His ardor for landscape painting never waned.
Zeal
Fervent or enthusiastic devotion, often extreme or fanatical in nature, to a cause, ideal, or goal.
Her zeal for environmental causes inspired many to join her.
Ardor
Burning heat.
In the ardor of the noonday sun, they continued their trek.
Zeal
Energetic and unyielding pursuit of an aim.
His zeal in promoting the new policy was crucial to its success.
Ardor
Can signify a fiery intensity in pursuit of artistic or creative activities.
His ardor for perfection in his craft was unparalleled.
Zeal
Sometimes implies a somewhat excessive fervor.
Sometimes, his zeal to enforce the rules made him unpopular.
Ardor
Feelings of great warmth and intensity;
He spoke with great ardor
Zeal
Often linked to religious or political fervor.
The preacher’s zeal attracted a large following.
Ardor
Often associated with romantic love.
The young lovers' ardor was obvious to all who knew them.
Zeal
Can describe the vigor or fervor in someone’s temperament.
Known for his zeal, the coach pushed the team to its limits.
Ardor
Intensity of emotion, especially strong desire, enthusiasm, or devotion.
Zeal
Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective
His zeal for privatization
Laura brought a missionary zeal to her work
Ardor
Great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion.
Zeal
Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal.
Ardor
Spirit; enthusiasm; passion.
Zeal
The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
She extols the virtues of veganism with missionary zeal.
Ardor
Intense heat.
Zeal
(obsolete) A person who exhibits such fervour or tireless devotion.
Ardor
Heat, in a literal sense; as, the ardor of the sun's rays.
Zeal
The collective noun for a group of zebras.
Ardor
Warmth or heat of passion or affection; eagerness; zeal; as, he pursues study with ardor; the fought with ardor; martial ardor.
Zeal
Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor.
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to subvert with little care what shall be established.
Ardor
Bright and effulgent spirits; seraphim.
Zeal
A zealot.
Ardor
A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause);
They were imbued with a revolutionary ardor
He felt a kind of religious zeal
Zeal
To be zealous.
Ardor
Intense feeling of love
Zeal
A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause);
They were imbued with a revolutionary ardor
He felt a kind of religious zeal
Zeal
Excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end;
He had an absolute zeal for litigation
Common Curiosities
Can ardor be applied to causes like zeal?
Yes, ardor can be applied to causes when describing intense emotional support or enthusiasm.
What is ardor?
Ardor refers to an intense warmth of emotion, often passionate or enthusiastic.
Is zeal always positive?
While zeal is generally positive, it can sometimes be perceived as overly fervent or fanatical.
Are there negative implications for ardor?
Ardor is generally positive, but it can be viewed negatively if it blinds one to other responsibilities or perspectives.
Does ardor imply a romantic element?
Ardor often implies a romantic or deeply personal element, but it can also refer to general passion or enthusiasm.
What makes zeal unique in social movements?
Zeal is particularly associated with the vigorous pursuit of social, political, or religious goals, often driving significant change.
Can someone have both ardor and zeal for something?
Yes, someone can exhibit both ardor and zeal, especially when passionately committed to a cause or person.
What are some synonyms for ardor?
Passion, fervor, enthusiasm, intensity are synonyms for ardor.
What is zeal?
Zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause, objective, or goal.
How do ardor and zeal differ in usage?
Ardor is often used in personal or romantic contexts, whereas zeal is typically related to enthusiasm for causes or goals.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
