Word: fanatical (adjective)

Associations

"Fanatical" describes someone who is very extreme or passionate about something, often in a way that seems unreasonable or too intense.

• A fanatical sports fan might watch every game and talk about their team all the time.
• A fanatical collector might spend a lot of money and time to get every item of a certain kind.
• Someone fanatical about work might spend many hours working and ignore other parts of life.

Synonym: "obsessive"

• "Fanatical" often suggests strong enthusiasm with a sense of extreme or irrational behavior.
• "Obsessive" focuses more on an uncontrollable or compulsive interest.
• Use "fanatical" when you want to show strong passion, sometimes too much.

Substitution

You can use:

• "passionate" (less extreme, more positive)
• "obsessed" (more about uncontrolled interest)
• "extreme" (focuses on intensity) Changing the word changes how strong or reasonable the interest seems.

Deconstruction

Root: "fanatic" comes from Latin "fanaticus," meaning "inspired by a deity," later meaning someone with extreme enthusiasm. Suffix: "-al" turns the noun "fanatic" into an adjective, describing a quality or characteristic.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a hobby or interest where people might be fanatical?
• Have you ever been fanatical about something? How did it feel?
• When is being fanatical helpful, and when might it be a problem?