zesty

[ zes-tee ]

adjective

, zest·i·er, zest·i·est.

1. full of zest; piquant:

   a zesty salad dressing.

2. energetic; active:

   zesty trading in growth stocks.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zesty¹

First recorded in 1925–30; zest + -y ¹

Example Sentences

It’s hard to leave the first courses, a pot of gold that also includes zesty marinated shrimp that crackle between the teeth from their rice-flour crust.

From Washington Post

North Carolina and South Carolina have an honest-to-goodness rivalry, which makes the Duke’s Mayo Bowl a zesty matchup even as the teams meet regularly at the same Charlotte venue.

From FiveThirtyEight

Those are some zesty words, but they’re also what you’d expect from a Chrome competitor seeking to differentiate based on privacy.

From Search Engine Land

It's a wonderfully playful, zesty turn that sees the 30-year-old dominate every scene he's in.

From The Daily Beast

In the June debate in New Hampshire, Michele Bachmann made a splash with her energetic, zesty, self-confident performance.

From The Daily Beast

Buttery and zesty, this dessert is the taste of desserts to come.

From The Daily Beast

Natural Port du Salut type described as "zesty" by some of the best purveyors of domestic cheeses.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appetizing
• aromatic
• distinctive
• fiery
• fragrant
• fresh
• hot
• peppery
• piquant
• savory
• seasoned
• sweet
• tangy
• tasty