Definition of racynext
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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 The two have been spending time together since at least July, when Minniear shared a racy photo of Goulding on Instagram. Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026 Adding another title to Rupert Murdoch ‘s media empire, the California Post will draw from and build on the venerable New York paper’s national coverage, which is known for its relentless and skewering approach to reporting and its facility with sensational or racy subject matter. Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026 Which helps explain why, around this time of year, certain social media feeds are inundated with racy FYI posts by adult stars courting votes. Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026 Yet for all the racy effusion, the point wasn’t so much self-exposure as self-expression. Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for racy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racy
Adjective
  • Locals consistently rave about FIG and Leon’s Oyster Shop, though wandering around aimlessly—especially on the city’s lively King Street—is part of the fun, too.
    Annie Daly, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Anecdotally, schools with bell-to-bell bans report livelier lunchtime conversations, and some research suggests that time and distance are critical for counteracting phones’ addictive tendencies.
    Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Her trick is to finely chop the ginger, instead of grating it, so there are spicy-sweet nubs in each bite.
    Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Odd pieces that are too small or irregularly shaped to cut into sashimi can be easily minced for spicy poke.
    Stella Fong, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The animated series is run by Brad Walsh and Paul Corrigan, who ran the live-action series with me.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
  • That call will depend on your kid's maturity level and tolerance for animated violence.
    Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Wasserman rode on Epstein’s plane and exchanged suggestive messages with Maxwell, the files the DOJ released show.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
  • More disturbingly, some MAGA cultural warriors claimed to be disgusted by Bad Bunny’s suggestive dancing and called for his censorship, harking back to the 1950s, when emerging superstar Elvis Presley was shot by TV cameras from the waist up during his appearance at the Ed Sullivan show.
    Ediberto Roman, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Buffey is described as an energetic and dedicated special education teacher who brings enthusiasm and creativity to every lesson.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The deployment of Lewis O’Brien and Ollie Rathbone, playing as an energetic pair of No 10s behind the equally-mobile Sam Smith up front suited this intent wonderfully.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The same traits—sloppy reasoning but a desire for collective punishment—animate other immigration-policy announcements.
    Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
  • Those same questions animate America’s healthcare system, where nurses, disproportionately women and people of color, shoulder the emotional and physical burden of institutions under stress.
    Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Iraq in 2003 had 25 million people, a military degraded by 12 years of sanctions, and no active nuclear program.
    Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The Twins now have 49 active players in camp.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Neither team shot the ball well early, but the pace was brisk.
    Oc Register, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Moderate-intensity exercise is anything that feels somewhat challenging, but doesn’t completely wipe you out, like brisk walking or a steady jog.
    Danielle Zickl, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Racy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racy. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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