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
- spicily adverb
- spiciness noun
- unspicily adverb
- unspiciness noun
- unspicy adjective
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.
They’ve got a really great spicy tuna roll that’s made out of watermelon.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
But some entrepreneurs have also identified business opportunities, including food sellers who offer hungry drivers bread and bananas, or more elaborate meals of spicy biryani rice.
From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026
A couple of spicy words on social media mean nothing, especially from people who spend their days online, trolling for attention.
From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026
I’m not saying we’re actively rooting for McIlroy to blow it, but it’s always spicy when the roller coaster creaks and the leaderboard gets shifty.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to make it too spicy or anything.”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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.
