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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
  • Atlanta chef David Rose’s sriracha-honey barbecue ribs combine smoked baby back ribs with a sticky, sweet-and-spicy glaze and his 2-2-1 method for cooking tender ribs at home.
    — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Many players show up for these RPGs looking for hilarious, dramatic, and spicy romantic relationships.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Sep. 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
  • Its rooftop bar, Zefiro, is a hotspot for creative cocktails with views of the Duomo, while a restaurant by Korean-American chef Akira Back, who trained under Nobu, brings delicious Japanese fusion cuisine to a city dominated by pasta and steak.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Cast your mind back to the winter of 2024 and the delicious second season of The Traitors.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of delicious
Adjective
  • Top it all with sharp cheddar, Romaine lettuce and garlic mayo for a hearty sandwich full of pungent, salty flavors.
    — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Those perfectly pungent elements rip through the savory pastrami perfectly, infusing every bite with a slightly prickly tang.
    — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of pungent
Adjective
  • Be sure to order a side of the crispy potatoes and the zingy herb salad.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of zingy
Adjective
  • Now, even this analyst isn’t salty enough to advocate cutting bait on those elite fantasy options — at least not yet.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Food plays an integral role in Manolito’s draw; small dishes include a classic mustardy Cuban sandwich and ropa vieja with raisins and capers that make each bite dance between sweet and salty.
    — Kristin Braswell, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2026.

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