zesty
Americanadjective
-
full of zest; piquant.
a zesty salad dressing.
-
energetic; active.
zesty trading in growth stocks.
Etymology
Origin of zesty
Explanation
Something that's zesty is fun and exciting. The zesty crowd that attends your party is lively, enthusiastic, and maybe even a little bit loud. People and parties can both be described as zesty, but you can also talk specifically about food that tastes zesty. When you eat a zesty lunch, it's highly flavored or even spicy. If you give her the extra hot salsa, your mom might say, "Ooh, these enchiladas are zesty!" The adjective comes from zest, the word for the outer part of an orange or lemon peel, which is often added to recipes for extra flavor.
Vocabulary lists containing zesty
Tasteful Terms: Flavorful Words
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Words to Describe Food
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -y
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Restaurant chains from Chick-fil-A to Buffalo Wild Wings are amping up the condiments rush, recently introducing new items such as Zesty Buffalo Sauce and Habanero Hot Sauce at retail.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Zesty soup or dip mixes, ready to be stirred into something warm on a cold night.
From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025
Zesty spices energise local fruit drinks and add a tangy twist to fruits and salads.
From BBC • May 14, 2024
Zesty, with aromas and flavors of citrus, salt and flowers.
From New York Times • May 3, 2018
Zesty watermelon and maybe a hint of cranberry enliven this delicious rosé, making it a hint of summer in a glass.
From Washington Post • Apr. 17, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
