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 of spicy

• suggestive
• blue
• salty

Examples of spicy in a Sentence

a spicy suggestion that earned him a slap in the face

Recent Examples on the Web

Take oyakodon, a saucy chicken and egg rice bowl, or mapo tofu, where spicy tofu sings with ground meat. — Emily Laurence Sardinha, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026

Waiters in Tom Ford tuxedos, meanwhile, passed around crab cakes and spicy rigatoni—the signature dish of Carbone’s eponymous restaurant. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

Diners will also find familiar favorites, too, like sticky Korean ribs, seafood towers, spicy Calabrian pasta and a variety of steaks and other sushi. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Eau des Merveilles is a classic Hermès scent, with notes of spicy woods and bitter orange. — Tim Chan, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spicy

• dicey
• icy
• pricey
• devisee
• 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