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What does fanaticize mean?

To fanaticize someone is to make them into a fanatic—a person with an extreme and often unquestioning enthusiasm, devotion, or zeal for something, such as a religion, political stance, or cause. It can also mean to become a fanatic.Much less commonly, it can mean to act in such a way—to engage in fanaticism or fanatical behavior.Fanatic is typically used negatively to imply that someone takes such devotion too far, as in They’re considered religious fanatics due to their extreme practices. Close synonyms are extremist, radical, and zealot.Fanaticize is most commonly used in reference to this sense of the word fanatic. When it is, a close synonym is radicalize.But fanatic can also be used in a way that’s not negative but instead simply refers to someone who is extreme in their devotion or enthusiasm for an interest or hobby. For example, calling someone a sports fanatic means they’re an extremely enthusiastic fan of sports. In fact, the word fan is a shortening of fanatic. Fanaticize can be used in reference to this sense of fanatic, but it’s much less common.Example: Followers of the movement are being fanaticized by online propaganda.