as in spicy
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses
bland pasta that needs a zesty sauce
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of zesty
Like a good martini, the novel blends the zesty gin of satire with vermouthy fruitiness and lemon twists of sharp observation.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025
And the Cauliflower Lemon Blend, Coxwell’s personal favorite, has a light and zesty flavor that’s a great alternative for a healthy, creamless white sauce for most recipes.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 6 June 2025
The core straight bourbon expression is light, zesty, and packed with flavor.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Sometimes, a zesty fashion statement should be enough to spark joy.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zesty
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025
And the Cauliflower Lemon Blend, Coxwell’s personal favorite, has a light and zesty flavor that’s a great alternative for a healthy, creamless white sauce for most recipes.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 6 June 2025
The core straight bourbon expression is light, zesty, and packed with flavor.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Sometimes, a zesty fashion statement should be enough to spark joy.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zesty
Adjective
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Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool across seven days from the end of November looks particularly spicy.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
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The health benefits of spicy food could not have been further from my mind.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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My favorite dish here was a piquant ceviche served with tortilla chips.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2025
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And to think, this pitiless conquistador came to North America as a humble kitchen herb, deliberately imported by European settlers for its piquant flavor.—
Zoë Lescaze,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Roasting them low and slow in a preheated oven, or cooking them slowly in a slow cooker, smoker, or sous vide before finishing on the grill or under the broiler, can all yield tender, delicious results.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 June 2025
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Instead, start the day with a lavish breakfast buffet at La Sala, piled with delicious local specialties, fresh tropical fruits, and mouthwatering international favorites.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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In a different context, the same pungent word applied to his devastating 2 a.m. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.—
Rich Lowry,
National Review,
23 June 2025
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That goes for bars of pungent soap, essential oils, sonic repellant devices, and hanging up pennies in bags of water, a favorite Internet myth.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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The play draws out the distinctiveness of the grandparents by ratcheting up their zingy eccentricities.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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Pick one up to get a whiff of its zingy, vegetal aroma.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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The bartender puts down the glass of wine along with a bowl of salty nuts.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
20 June 2025
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That combo hits all the right notes—salty, sour, spicy, and warm.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Zesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zesty. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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