A strong, enthusiastic feeling for something or someone, often resulting in a willingness to work hard or support passionately.
Examples:
Her zeal for improving education never wavered.A zeal for adventure took him to unexplored regions.They tackled the project with unmatched zeal and energy.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Zest
/zest/
Zest is a feeling of enthusiasm and enjoyment.
Examples:
Her zest for life inspired everyone she met.The soup lacked the zest to be called a gourmet dish.He added lemon zest to enhance the cake’s flavor.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Zeal typically refers to a devotion or eagerness in pursuing a cause, feeling, or activity, usually something more serious.
Zest often implies a more casual enjoyment or enthusiasm for an experience, typically linked to things that enliven the senses.
Zeal can be related to passion and willingness to work hard for something.
Zest is often associated with liveliness or the enjoyment of an activity.
Remember, zest is often used in the context of flavors or life's enjoyability while zeal is about fervor and eagerness in pursuit of goals.