zesty

[ zes-tee ]

/ ˈzɛs ti /

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adjective, zest·i·er, zest·i·est.

full of zest; piquant: a zesty salad dressing.

energetic; active: zesty trading in growth stocks.

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Origin of zesty

First recorded in 1925–30; zest + -y¹

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.
Rania delights with some of the most inspired Indian cooking in D.C.|Tom Sietsema|August 5, 2022|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.
Can’t Decide Which Bowl Games To Watch? We’ve Got A Metric For That.|Alex Kirshner|December 15, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Those are some zesty words, but they’re also what you’d expect from a Chrome competitor seeking to differentiate based on privacy.
Tips from the pros at SMX Create; Wednesday’s daily brief|George Nguyen|April 14, 2021|Search Engine Land
It's a wonderfully playful, zesty turn that sees the 30-year-old dominate every scene he's in.
Oscar Season Kicks Off in Toronto: Channing Tatum, Kristen Stewart, and More Court Awards Glory|Marlow Stern|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the June debate in New Hampshire, Michele Bachmann made a splash with her energetic, zesty, self-confident performance.
The Debate Losers: All Eight GOP Candidates|Michael Medved|August 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Buttery and zesty, this dessert is the taste of desserts to come.
What to Eat: Spring Feast|Cookstr.com|March 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Natural Port du Salut type described as "zesty" by some of the best purveyors of domestic cheeses.
The Complete Book of Cheese|Robert Carlton Brown