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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective racy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of racy are piquant, poignant, and pungent. While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

When might piquant be a better fit than racy?

While in some cases nearly identical to racy, piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

In what contexts can poignant take the place of racy?

The synonyms poignant and racy are sometimes interchangeable, but poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

Where would pungent be a reasonable alternative to racy?

While the synonyms pungent and racy are close in meaning, pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of racy Sizzling Performance Camilla Cabello performs in a racy lingerie look onstage at the Hordern Pavilion during her Yours, C tour stop in Sydney on Aug. 30. Escher Walcott, People.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Sabrina Carpenter is responding to criticism over her racy image. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Disney+ is nearly halfway through the Season 2 shoot on Rivals — and the racy Jilly Cooper adaptation has added two new guest cast members to its ensemble. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025 The other famous work from the era that remains famous today was a racy diary about the Heian court, The Pillow Book, by a contemporary of Lady Murasaki named Sei Shōnagon. Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for racy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racy
Adjective
  • On a sunny Tuesday morning, 35-year-old Rita Guerrero stepped out from her door on North Mariposa Street, lively pup Olive barely contained by her leash.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Zarutska worked in a lively area of the lower South End dotted with breweries, apartment complexes and coffee shops.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For a little bit of spicy kick, make the pimiento cheese with pepper Jack instead of Cheddar.
    Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The star, of course, is ginger root oil—its warm, spicy aroma is blended with cardamom, clove, and coriander, plus a hit of citrus oils (lime, orange, bergamot, grapefruit) and eucalyptus for an energizing, feel-good scent.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The movie, created with partners Native Foreign and Vertigo Films, is being produced in just nine months on a budget under $30 million—far less than typical animated features—and is slated to debut at Cannes before a global 2026 release.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The animated series touches on the relationships between fathers and sons, prompting Yeun, as the lead actor, to reflect on his own fatherhood journey.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The actress had previously teamed up with the company for a suggestive body wash commercial.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Like fall’s auburn leaves and bounty of crisp apples, checks, in all its iterations, kindle a cozy familiarity suggestive of the season.
    Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Labradors are often more energetic and bred for hunting, retrieving, and service work, whereas goldens are prized for their patience, friendliness, and trainability.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Inspired by the tradition of the divine feminine, the energetic space captivates with colors, abstract wall art and a goddess sculpture done by the dynamic sister artist duo’s mother.
    Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Some of the most active users of AI are now turning to the bots for things like life advice, therapy, and human intimacy.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Interior islands may exhibit active fire and isolated torching or trees may occur.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Royster recalled her animate Catholic teachings and love of Pope Francis’s vision for the church and the prophetic role to hold the government accountable.
    Olivia Cyrus, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • If the story is slight, the development of the characters through the songs’ lyrics and the performances of them animate and elevate the proceedings.
    Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There are expressive aromas of bread, pear and yellow plum; medium-full, with a rich, layered mid-palate, there is excellent complexity, significant persistence, brisk acidity and outstanding harmony.
    Tom Hyland, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • If left on automatic, the GFX100RF prefers a 1/125-second exposure time, which is brisk enough to eliminate signs of handshake.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Racy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racy. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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