spice 1 of 2

1
as in scent
a sweet or pleasant smell a cologne for men that captures all of the spice of the sea

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2
as in flavor
something (as a spice or herb) that adds an agreeable or interesting taste to food Europe in Columbus's time imported rare and valuable spices from the Indies

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3

spice

2 of 2

verb

as in to flavor
to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored spice the stew with more pepper

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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 spice
Noun
Opt for homemade, unsweetened chai made with black tea and spices, less likely to raise blood sugar. Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2025 Cider can also have spices, like cinnamon, added to it. Jillian Kubala, Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Bier has racked up awards at the annual Indiana Brewers' Cup on the strength of its German wheat beers, such as the Weizengoot, a crisp brew that's as pleasant to drink as any craft beer thanks to its featherlight body and gently spiced flavor. Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025 One is a frozen Pisco Sour zhuzhed up with lychee; the other, a hazy flower-petal magenta, is chicha morada, a drink made from purple corn spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spice
Noun
  • Subtle hints of vanilla bean and cocoa add sweetness and balance to the scent profile, and its black jar goes with just about anything.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • This partnership comes a few weeks after DedCool, best known for its detergent line, released incense in all three cult-favorite scents.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • By charring scallions and searing steak in the same skillet, every bite builds layers of savory, smoky flavor.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Almost any bitters can work, but Barton notes that lighter, fruit-forward flavors—like cherry, orange, or chocolate—tend to complement coffee best, while overly smoky or savory bitters can overwhelm it.
    Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Give classic cranberry sauce a makeover with orangey zest and a bit of spice.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Bittersweet Oud uses citrus to brighten the polarizing ingredient; Roasted Vanilla tempers its typical sweetness with the warmth of oak and cognac; and Iris Root, our favorite of the three, adds a peppery zest to the creamy ingredient so often used in barbershop tonics and other men’s scents.
    Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Luxury tableware and fragrance brand Tania Bulhões is another international firm that has its eye on Limoges artisan heritage.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Together, these notes create a velvety fragrance that smells like love in a bottle.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Sometimes artificial ingredients are used to give drinks an attractive appearance, texture, or color, or added for flavoring, or as a preservative to help prevent spoiling.
    Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
  • New additives like preservatives, flavorings and vitamins were infused into them, and they were packaged in novel ways to withstand hard helicopter drops, wet beach landings and days at the bottom of rucksacks.
    Alice Callahan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The bean canning liquid adds body to the soup, as does the cream cheese, along with a little tang.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • There’s also a swirl of cream cheese tucked in, which adds a little tang that keeps the sweetness in check.
    Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Adding your preferred aroma to a wool dryer ball is also possible.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The fruit and its peel can be used to add flavor to drinks or aromas to perfumes.
    Kirstyn Hill, Health, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The most notable part of this gag was not the joke itself, a standard late-night quip delivered with appropriate piquancy.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.
    Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spice. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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