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Synonyms

saucy

American  
[saw-see] / ˈsɔ si /

adjective

saucier, sauciest

  1. impertinent; insolent.

    a saucy remark; a saucy child.
    Synonyms:
    brazen, fresh, impudent, rude

  2. pert; boldly smart.

    a saucy little hat for Easter.
    Synonyms:
    jaunty
saucy British  
/ ˈsɔːsɪ /

adjective

  1. impertinent

  2. pert; jaunty

    a saucy hat
"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

  • oversaucy adjective
  • saucily adverb
  • sauciness noun

Etymology

Origin of saucy

First recorded in 1500–10; sauce + -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.

Ernst Lubitsch is best remembered today for directing some of the wittiest, sauciest Hollywood romantic comedies of the 1930s and ’40s.

From The Wall Street Journal

If I’m feeling saucy, shredded iceberg and Swiss join the party.

From Salon

It’s a rare spot that excels at both minimalist nigiri, where the fish is the star, and saucy, more elaborate rolls.

From Salon

I think of it like a little flavor orchestra: saucy, cheesy, meaty, tangy, fresh.

From Salon

It consists of two layers of moist sponge cake smothered in custard filling and whipped cream that’s then topped with a glorious spread of saucy strawberries and dollops of extra whipped cream.

From Salon

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.