hot pepper

noun

: any of various small and usually thin-walled capsicum fruits of marked pungency
also : a plant (especially a variant or cultivar of Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens) bearing hot peppers

Examples of hot pepper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Overusing hot peppers or selecting particularly spicy varieties can lead to a chili that's too fiery for some to enjoy. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2024 Most commercial rodent repellents contain capsaicin (hot pepper compound), mint or rosemary oils, or putrid egg solids. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2024 Pairing hot peppers with acidic ingredients, like lime juice or vinegar, or with dairy, can neutralize some of that jalapeño heat. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2024 Birds are immune to the damaging effects of capsaicin, found in hot peppers. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hot pepper 

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot pepper was in 1945

Dictionary Entries Near hot pepper

Cite this Entry

“Hot pepper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20pepper. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hot pepper

noun
1
: an often thin-walled and small pepper with a sharp or biting taste
2
: a pepper plant of the nightshade family that bears hot peppers
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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