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Synonyms

peppery

American  
[pep-uh-ree] / ˈpɛp ə ri /

adjective

  1. full of or tasting like pepper; hot; pungent.

    Synonyms:
    spicy

  2. of, relating to, or resembling pepper.

  3. sharp or stinging.

    a peppery speech.
    Synonyms:
    biting

  4. easily angered; bad-tempered; irritable; irascible.

    the peppery leader of a political faction.
    Synonyms:
    choleric, testy, hot-tempered
peppery British  
/ ˈpɛpərɪ /

adjective

  1. flavoured with or tasting of pepper

  2. quick-tempered; irritable

  3. full of bite and sharpness

    a peppery speech
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • pepperily adverb
  • pepperiness noun
  • unpeppery adjective

Etymology

Origin of peppery

First recorded in 1690–1700; pepper + -y 1

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.

These peppery greens contain abundant fiber and bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides and antioxidants.

From Science Daily • Oct. 12, 2025

Greek oregano, what most people picture when they say “oregano,” is actually a member of the mint family, floral and peppery.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2025

As sloppy as it is, there’s no denying that “Honey Don’t!” works as a noir with a pleasant, peppery flavor.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

For example, Cherry Belle radish greens have a mild, peppery zing to them, similar to arugula, while Daikon greens are slightly more bitter, especially in mature plants.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2025

Several of the vendors were frying chunks of fish with onions and beets, or selling peppery fish stew out of small iron kettles.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

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.