spice 1 of 2

noun

ˈspīs How to pronounce spice (audio)
Definition of spicenext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in zest
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses a new hobby will add spice to your life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Zendaya and Lipa, however, opted to add extra spice to summer's most basic uniform with a pair of bold red ballet flats. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 2 July 2026 Helmed by Torin Murphy and Jordan Katz, find medicinal tincture blends, topicals, bitters, and spice blends at their booth at Stateside! — Rs Editors, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026
Verb
Throw your odds and ends in the spacious Gassda Canvas Tote and spice up the look with edgy cat-eye sunglasses, on sale for just $15. — Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 They're spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger and drizzled with cream cheese glaze to complete the carrot cake experience. — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spice
  1. scent
  2. flavor
  3. zest
  4. fragrance
  5. flavoring
  6. piquancy
  7. aroma
  8. tang
Noun
  • Also known as fragrance stacking, layering means mixing scents to create your own custom blend according to Almira Armstrong, founder of Lumira.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • The dogs, specially trained to detect human scent, have spent days searching for people trapped beneath the rubble of nearly 200 buildings that collapsed following the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of scent
Noun
  • The sauce painted over the surface is thick like puree, with a vibrant, all encompassing, fresh tomato flavor.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Krispy Kreme's newest flavor inspiration comes from Girl Scout Cookies.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of flavor
Noun
  • Lemon zest and juice in the filling give a citrusy hue to the pie.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
  • Even more than Stinnerbom’s cardamom bun — which some praise as the best in Oslo — the more elemental cinnamon notes, enhanced with lemon zest and juice, allow the sourdough’s multifaceted dimensions to come through.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of zest
Noun
  • Your sense of smell is wired directly to areas of the brain that regulate pain and alertness, which is why certain fragrances can trigger headaches in sensitive people.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 11 July 2026
  • The fragrances are noticeable after immediate wear and reduce with time to gradually blend with the natural scent of your hair.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Definition of fragrance
Noun
  • Customers can take it black, or with vanilla or mocha flavoring.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
  • Some may also contain natural flavorings such as lemons and cucumber.
    — Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 8 July 2026
Definition of flavoring
Noun
  • Those split levels of child and adult consciousness give the film a certain piquancy, a little gap where drama can spark in a story where almost nothing really happens except a kid takes a plane ride, or several plane rides, with his mom.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • That Mann himself had written stories on gay themes added to the piquancy of the encounter.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of piquancy
Noun
  • Black and oolong teas are not roasted, but oxidized to bring out different aromas.
    — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Between courses, a master cooper treated us to a fire-barreling demonstration, unleashing tall jets of flame that shot to the ceiling and filled the air with the aroma of charred oak.
    — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of aroma
Noun
  • Storebought dulce de leche makes this homemade brownie extra easy, while a thin layer of cream cheese adds a bit of tang.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 July 2026
  • The crust on the Margherita is covered in big, charred bubbles, with a tang that’s present, but fleeting.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of tang

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sphinxlike
spice
spiced
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Cite this Entry

“Spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spice. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on spice

Nglish: Translation of spice for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spice

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