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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 Those on the inside track have already discovered white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a racy but complex regional style of white wine that is popping up on tables and shelves with increasing frequency. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2025 On the palate, there’s present saline—a nod to the coastal location—along with a racy and fresh acidity. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 The singer-songwriter recounted how Katelyn jumped into the series when a more racy moment played out on screen. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025 His latest post of the beauty, however, may have been a little too racy to keep up on his social media. Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for racy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racy
Adjective
  • His crossword is not themed, but the entry is lively nonetheless.
    Deb Amlen, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Located right on the bustling Piazza delle Erbe, Verona’s liveliest piazza built atop the ancient Roman Capitolium, this museum gives new life to a majestic 17th-century palazzo.
    Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The admirable Kentucky Freedom Run Farm provides the fine, flavorful lamb for a slow braising and sided with a spicy tomato jam risotto, coriander, mint-and-pistachio gremolata and the reduction of the meat’s juices.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • His agenda for a perfect day in L.A. includes a boat party, an ice bath and the most glorious spicy shrimp in town.
    Michelle Woo, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Looney Tunes film, featuring Forte and John Cena opposite an animated Wile E. Coyote, became the most talked about movie in Hollywood in late 2023 when The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Warner Bros. intended to scrap the movie as part of a $115 million writedown.
    Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Fox’s rollout includes return dates for animated series like Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy, as well as premieres for reality programs including MasterChef (returning for a 15th season dubbed Dynamic Duos) and unscripted newbie The Snake, hosted by comedian Jim Jefferies.
    Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Mackintosh and Bourne mitigate the damage by grouping some songs together and presenting them in an ingeniously suggestive dramatic fashion.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
  • This revelation tempers the expectations of a Dynasty revival despite the suggestive interactions and Hammerstone's social media activity.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The energy rises as the wrestler and the rapper take energetic strides and bounce to the ring.
    Shaheem Reid, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The rest of the evening was largely an energetic affair that oscillated between sincere appreciation and light humor, the latter of which began for co-host and winner Gold early in the event.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In his new role, Jackson will oversee day-to-day operations of the foundation, advise on real-time policy and reform, expand active partnerships and the current network.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 1 May 2025
  • Asked whether any sensitive information was compromised by the attack, county spokesman Evan Shields declined comment, citing an active investigation.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Users do have creative freedom — freedom to learn to draw, animate, write, score, or direct their own projects.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Charcuterie and cheese, potatoes and onions, meat and offal: These are the ingredients that animate Harris’s chalkboard menu, all old friends, treated with a grandmotherly mix of tenderness and brawn.
    Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Jack and Kate’s problems are more subtle and slow to emerge than the other pairs’; with brisk, half-hour episodes, this sometimes manifests in their tensions being spelled out rather than shown.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 1 May 2025
  • Challenge yourself to make the transitions as smooth as possible, picking up the pace toward the end of your walk to seamlessly progress into the run, then dialing it back over the last few seconds of your run to ease back into a brisk walk.
    Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Racy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racy. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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