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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.

The thin sauce uses garlic, salt and other spices for a tangy, peppery punch.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Massaged kale, peppery arugula, thin-sliced bok choy, spinach, cabbage.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Oct. 12, 2025

In both cases, it’s that subtle, peppery lift that makes a familiar dish feel unexpectedly alive.

From Salon • Sep. 2, 2025

The roots of this flower are very good if you boil them long enough to remove the peppery taste.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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.