spicy

or spice·y

[ spahy-see ]

See synonyms for: spicy spiciness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,spic·i·er, spic·i·est.

seasoned with or containing spice: a spicy salad dressing.
characteristic or suggestive of spice.

of the nature of or resembling spice.
abounding in or yielding spices.
aromatic or fragrant.
piquant or pungent: spicy criticism.
of a slightly improper or risqué nature; somewhat sexy: a spicy novel.
Informal. full of spirit; lively.

Origin of spicy

First recorded in 1555–65; spice + -y¹

Other words for spicy

6	hot, sharp, peppery
7	suggestive, racy, ribald, improper

See synonyms for spicy on Thesaurus.com

Other words from spicy

spic·i·ly, adverb
spic·i·ness, noun
un·spic·i·ly, adverb
un·spic·i·ness, noun
un·spic·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spicy in a sentence

The new idea of making the said Dorito shell spicier and adding a splash of lime is derivative at best.
Is America Out of Ideas? | Daniel Gross | August 27, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The difficulty of passing these from hand to hand only made the reading—and the writing—the spicier.
The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes | Israel Zangwill
Could justice ever have served up a spicier dish whereon to regale the multitude?
The Light of Scarthey | Egerton Castle

British Dictionary definitions for spicy

spicy

/ (ˈspaɪsɪ) /

adjectivespicier or spiciest

seasoned with or containing spice
highly flavoured; pungent

informal suggestive of scandal or sensation
producing or yielding spices

Derived forms of spicy

spicily, adverb
spiciness, noun

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

Browse