spicy
Americanadjective
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seasoned with or containing spice.
a spicy salad dressing.
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characteristic or suggestive of spice.
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of the nature of or resembling spice.
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abounding in or yielding spices.
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aromatic or fragrant.
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piquant or pungent.
spicy criticism.
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of a slightly improper or risqué nature; somewhat sexy.
a spicy novel.
- Synonyms:
- improper, ribald, racy, suggestive
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Informal. full of spirit; lively.
adjective
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seasoned with or containing spice
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highly flavoured; pungent
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informal suggestive of scandal or sensation
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producing or yielding spices
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of spicy
Explanation
Spicy things have a sharp, strong, pungent flavor. Hot chili peppers—and food that's made with them—are notoriously spicy. People who don't like spicy food might be hesitant to try an Indian, Thai, or Mexican restaurant, since the cuisines of those countries are known for being spicy. But if you love the way curries tingle on your tongue, then you're a fan of spicy dishes. Spicy is also used to mean "exciting but vulgar or inappropriate," like a spicy joke that's not suitable for school.
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.
Rose added that independent bookshops were "so important" and The Spicy Librarian was "curated for readers, by readers" and provided a way to share passions.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
Grok's image generation models include what xAI promotes as a "Spicy Mode" for editing pictures, according to the attorney general's office.
From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026
The hope is for shoppers to buy their cabbage at the Whole Foods upstairs before basking in the purple glow of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos by the lobby.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025
And in April, Starbucks released a new, limited-time spicy line of lemonade drinks in three flavors: Spicy Dragonfruit, Spicy Pineapple and Spicy Strawberry.
From Salon • Apr. 6, 2025
I put down the latest issue of Spicy Detective.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
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.
