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Definitions

zest

[zest] / zɛst /
NOUN
taste, flavor; pep, joie de vivre
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flavoring ginger salt seasoning spice
STRONG
bite body charm get-up-and-go guts interest kick nip piquancy punch pungency relish savor snap tang zip
Antonyms
STRONG
apathy blandness boredom dullness idleness lethargy
WEAK
indifference laziness
NOUN
energy, gusto
Synonyms
STRONGEST
appetite enthusiasm fervor passion
STRONG
ardor bliss bounce cheer delectation delight eagerness ecstasy elation enjoyment guts happiness keenness moxie pep pleasure relish satisfaction zeal zing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
apathy coolness dislike hatred indifference
STRONG
depression dissatisfaction gloom hate lethargy melancholy misery need pain sadness sorrow trouble unhappiness want woe
WEAK
blandness dullness laziness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lemon zest, stirred in at the end, brings everything into focus—the richness of the coconut, the savoriness of the miso, the warmth of the spices.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Simply add a pinch of lemon zest, Chavez says.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

"He no longer had any zest for life," Josee Poissant told AFP.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

As Helen Zoe Veit tells it in “Picky,” a “childish” appetite used to be one characterized by zest and indiscrimination.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Thus encouraged, I played the false role of obedient daughter with even more zest.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Vocabulary lists containing zest

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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird

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