Zealous VS eager

[easybreakable]

Zealous VS eager.... Please what's the difference? Explain it even if it's slight.

Do these sentences have the same meaning:

1- Salma is pretty eager to participate in the pageant.

2- Salma is pretty zealous to participate in the pageant.

[5jj]

Only #1 is natural. 'Zealous' is much stronger than 'eager', and it is not normally used in a 'BE+zealous+to-infinitive' construction.

[easybreakable]

So to form a true sentence using "Zealous" I should say:

Salma is a zealous participant of the pageant.

[easybreakable]

^^^^ ?

[bhaisahab]

So to form a true sentence using "Zealous" I should say:

Salma is a zealous participant of the pageant.

"Salma is a zealous participant in the pageant" is OK.

[Barb_D]

Note that zealous has a connotation of including a rather manic aspect to it.

[SoothingDave]

Note that zealous has a connotation of including a rather manic aspect to it.

Yes, that is what I thought. Something irrational about a zealot.

[easybreakable]

I think this's the main problem we (as non-native speakers) are facing.
I've come across this word while practicing for TOFEL, very unfamiliar and honestly never heard it before. To use it properly I have to take care of the grammars and the exact meaning.... Thank you all!