as in spicy
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses
bland pasta that needs a zesty sauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 heat-and-eat entrée contains two savory, mildly spicy poblano pepper halves that are stuffed with a zesty, flavorful mix of soft brown rice, corn kernels, and hearty white chicken meat.
—
Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 6 Apr. 2026
Customers can create customizable meals starting with a base of rice or steamed vegetables and a protein such as barbecue pork, spicy pork, beef bulgogi, zesty chicken and braised tofu.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 31 Mar. 2026
This comes with six shrimp and a zesty sauce.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Or do as the French do–dip the Artichoke leaves into a zesty aioli and scrape the savory pulp with your teeth.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zesty
Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 6 Apr. 2026
Customers can create customizable meals starting with a base of rice or steamed vegetables and a protein such as barbecue pork, spicy pork, beef bulgogi, zesty chicken and braised tofu.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 31 Mar. 2026
This comes with six shrimp and a zesty sauce.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Or do as the French do–dip the Artichoke leaves into a zesty aioli and scrape the savory pulp with your teeth.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zesty
Adjective
-
No one’s workday was ever overturned by a spicy Cook tweet.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The postgame scene eloquently explained why this series has become greasy, if not spicy.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Conductors often fetishize the opening bars of this opera, their squirmy alternation of silence and piquant dissonance.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Red cabbage, carrots and Tuscan kale form the base, bound together with a piquant balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The parathas, as the savory flatbreads are called, stuffed with onion and paneer and coated with a generous amount of butter, are as delicious as ever.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This simple combination of strawberries, lemon, basil, and sugar is the key to so many fruit-forward desserts, but the sweet mixture is just as delicious when enjoyed on its own.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That's because, while garlic is a delicious food that adds rich flavor to your favorite recipes, this pungent plant can also repel an assortment of common garden pests, from aphids to deer.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
-
On a searing hot day in Mattiyarenthal, a village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, women farmers toil over chile pepper plants as their sharp, pungent scent fills the air.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This zingy and creamy lemon trifle resembles lemon meringue pie but is so much easier to make.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Chanel, brooch, $4,100 This cotton and silk flower brooch from Chanel’s spring/summer 2026 collection by Matthieu Blazy carries the kind of zingy energy powerful enough to make winter feel like a distant memory.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The crust on this Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie is made from pretzel sticks and butter, which add a salty balance to the filling, a cool and creamy mixture of strawberries, condensed milk, and cream cheese.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Oaxacan String Cheese Tacos Stretchy, salty Oaxacan cheese sears hard on a pan on one side while the other side melts onto a tortilla.—
Deputy Food Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zesty. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
