Anything taken to extremes usually is not a good thing, so if someone calls you a zealot, take heed. The word signifies someone who is zealous (duh!), having a fervent passion or obsession for a person, a cause, or an ideal. In other words, a fanatic. Remember: It’s all about moderation…

Example: Though the firm needed the commercial office project, Debra politely declined the invitation to the interview. The company’s CEO had a reputation as a religious zealot, and if one didn’t share his views, then she knew that the client-designer relationship would be miserable.