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
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Recent Examples of zesty
Last summer, Gigi Hadid styled a zesty citrus pair with a playful mini dress, while Dakota Johnson wore a pair while vacationing in Ibiza with Kate Hudson.
—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
23 June 2026
Each bite is filled with crunchy texture from peppers, tender chew from pasta, and a subtle build of heat from a spicy ranch vinaigrette that is zesty but manages to complement the sweet notes of the fresh veggies.
—
Amanda Stanfield,
Southern Living,
22 June 2026
Its herbal notes and zesty acidity will cut through the rich cheese while complementing the fresh flavors in the dish.
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Carole Kotkin,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
This gorgeous recipe, featured in their cookbook Crowded Kitchen, balances the berries with tangy goat cheese, creamy avocado, crunchy pepitas, and a zesty lime-jalapeño-mint dressing.
—
Lexi Harrison,
Midwest Living,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for zesty
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
23 June 2026
Each bite is filled with crunchy texture from peppers, tender chew from pasta, and a subtle build of heat from a spicy ranch vinaigrette that is zesty but manages to complement the sweet notes of the fresh veggies.
—
Amanda Stanfield,
Southern Living,
22 June 2026
Its herbal notes and zesty acidity will cut through the rich cheese while complementing the fresh flavors in the dish.
—
Carole Kotkin,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
This gorgeous recipe, featured in their cookbook Crowded Kitchen, balances the berries with tangy goat cheese, creamy avocado, crunchy pepitas, and a zesty lime-jalapeño-mint dressing.
—
Lexi Harrison,
Midwest Living,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for zesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zesty
Adjective
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Wild Arugula While standard arugula may be part of many reasonably priced salad mixes, the deliciously spicy, dainty wild arugula fetches premium prices of $4 to $6 for a 5-ounce bunch.
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Modales leans into cold-hardy grapes varieties like blaufränkisch, the spicy Austrian red variety that has become a favorite by-the-glass pour at Ox Bar.
Adjective
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When prepared with skill, shrimp can be tender and sweet, perfect for dipping in tangy, piquant cocktail sauce.
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The piquant dish is lacquered with strawberry-guajillo barbecue sauce, while a punchy coleslaw with Fresno chile vinaigrette rounds things out.
Adjective
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Whip up a big batch of this delicious chicken salad to have ready to go all week.
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That includes delicious deals across lots of furniture and home decor, including bedroom pieces, outdoor gems, and ceramics to uplift any area of your home.
Adjective
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The club is located in Lancaster County, surrounded by chicken and dairy farms that give off a pungent odor of fermenting feed and manure.
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Italian sauvignon blanc offers an alterative that is typically subtler, more textured and less dependent on those pungent aromatics.
Adjective
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The surprising combination of pasta, pepperoni slices, olives, and bell peppers dressed in a zingy Italian vinaigrette.
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Brands even sell pickle juice on its own, pickle-free, for use in salty, zingy cocktails or refreshing probiotic supplements.
Adjective
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The 1500 feet-long sculpture, made of 6000 tons of black basalt rock and earth, juts out of the basin and is encrusted with white salt, having been altered over the years by the salty pink water that used to flow there.
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The terrain is rocky, with vineyards clinging to steep limestone slopes, simultaneously warmed by the sun and cooled by salty Adriatic breezes.
Cite this Entry
“Zesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zesty. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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