Zest vs. Zeal — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 12, 2024
Zest is a keen enjoyment or eagerness in approach, while zeal is intense enthusiasm or passion for a specific cause or objective.
Difference Between Zest and Zeal
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Zest embodies a lively enjoyment or pleasure someone feels about doing something, characterized by eagerness and energetic interest. It's often associated with a sense of excitement or enthusiasm for life, activities, or experiences, bringing a flavor of vitality and vivacity. Whereas zeal focuses on fervent interest or dedication towards a specific cause or pursuit. It denotes a powerful, often more serious commitment or eagerness to achieve a particular goal or support a cause.
Zest is about the joy and enthusiasm one brings to everyday activities, injecting them with energy and a positive spirit. Zeal is marked by its intensity and single-minded dedication, showing a profound depth of feeling that goes beyond just enjoying an activity it's about being passionately driven to pursue an objective or a belief.
On one hand, zest can be seen in the way a person approaches life in general, with a vibrant enthusiasm that is infectious and uplifting. It's about finding joy in the little things and embracing life with a spirited attitude. On the other hand, zeal often manifests in focused passion towards achieving something significant, whether it's in one's career, a hobby, or social and political causes. It's the kind of enthusiasm that can inspire change and drive people to go above and beyond.
While zest is more about an overall attitude towards life and its various experiences, zeal is typically directed towards specific goals or ideologies. Zest adds a spark to daily living, making ordinary moments enjoyable, whereas zeal fuels a deeper sense of purpose and commitment towards achieving something meaningful.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Keen enjoyment or eagerness
Intense enthusiasm or passion
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Focus
General approach to life
Specific cause or objective
Energy Level
Energetic and lively
Intense and passionate
Emotional Tone
Joyful and uplifting
Serious and committed
Application
Broad, everyday activities
Focused, often towards achievements
Compare with Definitions
Zest
Joy in participation.
He joined the dance with zest, enjoying every moment.
Zeal
Dedication to a cause.
He worked with zeal to raise funds for the charity.
Zest
Vitality in approach.
His zest for life was evident in his adventurous spirit.
Zeal
Fervor in advocacy.
His zeal for social justice was evident in his speeches.
Zest
Eagerness and enthusiasm.
She tackled her new project with zest, excited about the learning opportunities.
Zeal
Eagerness to achieve.
They pursued their research with zeal, determined to make a breakthrough.
Zest
Excitement for experiences.
She brings zest to the classroom, making learning enjoyable for her students.
Zeal
Commitment to objectives.
She approached her training with zeal, aiming to win the championship.
Zest
Flavor or interest.
Adding lemon zest to the recipe brought a refreshing twist.
Zeal
Intense passion.
Her zeal for environmental conservation inspired others to take action.
Zest
Flavor or piquancy
A spice that lends zest to the sauce.
Zeal
Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective
His zeal for privatization
Laura brought a missionary zeal to her work
Zest
Interest or excitement
"A spiral staircase always adds zest to a setting" (P. J. O'Rourke).
Zeal
Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal.
Zest
The outermost part of the rind of an orange, lemon, or other citrus fruit, used as flavoring
Added a pinch of grated zest.
Zeal
The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
She extols the virtues of veganism with missionary zeal.
Zest
Spirited enjoyment; gusto
"At 53 he retains all the heady zest of adolescence" (Kenneth Tynan).
Zeal
(obsolete) A person who exhibits such fervour or tireless devotion.
Zest
To remove small pieces from (a rind from a citrus fruit) for use as a flavoring in cooking
Zested the lemon.
Zeal
The collective noun for a group of zebras.
Zest
The outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a flavouring or garnish.
The orange zest gives the strong flavor in this dish.
Zeal
Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor.
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to subvert with little care what shall be established.
Zest
General vibrance of flavour.
I add zest to the meat by rubbing it with a spice mixture before grilling.
Zeal
A zealot.
Zest
(by extension) Enthusiasm; keen enjoyment; relish; gusto.
Zeal
To be zealous.
Zest
(rare) The woody, thick skin enclosing the kernel of a walnut.
Zeal
A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause);
They were imbued with a revolutionary ardor
He felt a kind of religious zeal
Zest
(cooking) To scrape the zest from a fruit.
Zeal
Excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end;
He had an absolute zeal for litigation
Zest
To make more zesty.
Zest
A piece of orange or lemon peel, or the aromatic oil which may be squeezed from such peel, used to give flavor to liquor, etc.
Zest
Hence, something that gives or enhances a pleasant taste, or the taste itself; an appetizer; also, keen enjoyment; relish; gusto.
Almighty Vanity! to thee they oweTheir zest of pleasure, and their balm of woe.
Liberality of disposition and conduct gives the highest zest and relish to social intercourse.
Zest
The woody, thick skin inclosing the kernel of a walnut.
Zest
To cut into thin slips, as the peel of an orange, lemon, etc.; to squeeze, as peel, over the surface of anything.
Zest
To give a relish or flavor to; to heighten the taste or relish of; as, to zest wine.
Zest
Vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
Zest
A tart spiciness
Zest
Add herbs or spices to
Common Curiosities
Can a person have both zest and zeal?
Yes, one can have a zestful approach to life and zeal for particular interests or causes.
How can zest enhance daily life?
Zest can make everyday activities more enjoyable and fulfilling by adding a sense of enthusiasm.
What distinguishes zest from zeal?
Zest is about general enthusiasm for life, while zeal is intense passion towards a specific cause.
Can zeal be negative?
While zeal is often positive, excessive zeal without consideration can lead to fanaticism.
Does zest require energy?
Yes, zest involves an energetic and lively approach to activities.
Can zeal lead to burnout?
If not balanced with rest and self-care, intense zeal can lead to burnout.
Is zest always positive?
Generally, yes, as it relates to a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards life.
Is zest linked to happiness?
Yes, zest is closely associated with a joyful and fulfilling approach to life.
Can zest change over time?
Yes, life experiences can influence one's level of zest.
How can one cultivate zest?
By finding joy in the little things and embracing new experiences with openness.
What motivates zeal in a person?
A deep commitment to achieving a goal or supporting a cause.
How does zeal affect relationships?
Shared zeal can strengthen bonds, but differing levels of zeal may cause tension.
How do societal values affect zeal?
Societal values can shape what individuals feel passionate about and dedicate their zeal towards.
Why is zeal important?
Zeal drives individuals to pursue goals and causes with dedication, often leading to significant achievements.
Is there a downside to too much zest?
Excessive zest without focus can lead to superficial engagement without deep fulfillment.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
