spicy

adjective

ˈspī-sē 

spicier; spiciest

1

: having the flavor, fragrance, or quality of spice

a spicy perfume

especially : containing strong spices : piquant, zesty

spicy foods

2

: producing or abounding in spices

… the spicy isles of the Indies …

—Thomas G. Gentry born 1843

A tale of heroic misadventure followed, spiriting me from 16th-century Cornwall to the spicy shores of North Africa.

—Sophie Gee

3

: lively, spirited

a spicy temper

4

: engagingly provocative : racy

spicy language

especially : somewhat scandalous or salacious

spicy gossip

spicily

ˈspī-sə-lē 

adverb

spicily fragrant

spiciness

ˈspī-sē-nəs 

noun

the spiciness of black pepper

Synonyms

• bawdy
• blue
• gamy
• gamey
• lewd
• off
• off-color
• off-colored
• racy
• ribald
• risqué
• salty
• suggestive

Examples of spicy in a Sentence

a spicy suggestion that earned him a slap in the face

Recent Examples on the Web

The Belgian blonde Buddy System is a spicy 6.4%, and the German-style helles checks in at 5.8%. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025

News how Shepard reacted to watching her steamy scenes with Brody, 44, in the spicy series. —Esther Kang, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025

This weekend’s electrifying showdown at the Etihad between Manchester City and Liverpool just got spicier. —Julia Ranney, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

By Stephanie McNeal February 19, 2025 Though there were multiple love triangles in Love Is Blind season 8, none got quite as spicy in the pods as the trio of Madison Errichiello, Mason Horacek, and Meg Fink. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spicy

• dicey
• icy
• lycee
• pricey
• theodicy

Kids Definition

spicy

adjective

ˈspī-sē 

spicier; spiciest

1

: flavored with or containing spice

2

: somewhat shocking or indecent

a spicy story

spicily

-sə-lē 

adverb

spiciness

-sē-nəs 

noun