zesty

adjective

ˈze-stē How to pronounce zesty (audio)
Definition of zestynext
as in spicy
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses bland pasta that needs a zesty sauce

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of zesty This Best of Beauty Award winner is paired with the equally zesty bergamot right up top, with Earl Grey tea, orange flower, and jasmine mid-notes bringing a calm, sweetly floral freshness to the heart. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Aug. 2026 Ahead, discover 12 lemon drop nail ideas that are equal parts zesty, sweet, and chic. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026 Bold citrus flavors mingle with piney hop notes and a crisp bitterness, creating a clean-drinking IPA with a zesty finish that keeps you coming back for more. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 21 July 2026 The daily rotating menu draws from various stops along the route; that night, I was served a zesty octopus, caught in Perth and paired with chimichurri and saltbush, an herb native to arid interior plains like the ones surrounding Kalgoorlie. — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for zesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zesty
  1. spicy
  2. piquant
  3. delicious
  4. pungent
  5. zingy
  6. salty
Adjective
  • Nightcap is a deliciously addictive gourmand, blending cozy vanilla and rich woods with sparkling ginger and cardamom for a spicy-sweet twist.
    — Allure Editors, Allure, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The dish is spicy enough and not so thick with cream or flour and is a standout in the clam chowder world, according to Times reader Mary Ann Mollenkamp.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of spicy
Adjective
  • Sipping on the watermelon, calamansi, ginger agua fresca was just the right pairing with my boldly piquant dinner.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Placebo, loukoumi, kouglof, toda raba, Sharapova, tempura, cacao, platypus, shrub, castagnette, potato salada, potage piquant pékinois.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of piquant
Adjective
  • Known for its sumptuous cuisine and delicious desserts, Italy has tourists lining up for gelato all over the peninsula.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Black Pepper Candied Bacon Fogo de Chão/MANNY RODRIGUEZ At Fogo de Chão, this delicious bacon dish is oven roasted with brown sugar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
    — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of delicious
Adjective
  • When a radish is cut, bitten, or crushed, its cells are damaged, triggering an enzyme called myrosinase to break down the glucosinolates into various metabolites, including pungent compounds known as isothiocyanates.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The pungent smells of pot smoke and someone else’s urine compete with the dank smell of the canal.
    — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of pungent
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, an electric color palette of zingy greens, bold reds, and Prussian blues–touched off with plenty of black accents–amplifies the property’s wildly original juxtaposition of antiquity and modernity.
    — Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That texture was complemented by balanced sweetness and acidity and a zingy punch of garlic.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of zingy
Adjective
  • Curiosity has climbed through a vertical half-mile (1 kilometer) of rock layers so far, finding clay-rich, mudstone layers that give way at higher elevations to younger sandstones full of salty minerals.
    — Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Parts of Florida Bay remain too salty, with too little water flowing from Everglades marshes.
    — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of salty

Browse Nearby Words

zestless
zesty
zig
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zesty. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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