as in piquancy
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Recent Examples of spiciness
Add more chili powder to increase the heat and spiciness of this dish.
—
Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
The mix of spices held a hint of spiciness, but still pretty flavorful and wasn’t overwhelming.
—Alexa Stone
january 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
Its Timur pepper offers a spiciness for an unexpected twist.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
The eau de parfum has a warm spiciness that feels inviting, not cloying.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025
The flavors of the palak paneer are perfectly balanced and medium spiciness brings just enough heat (for me).
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Basically, hop bitterness, roast malt, carbonation and alcohol can all balance sweetness and fatty richness in food, and the malty sweetness in certain beers can balance the acidity and hot spiciness of foods with those characteristics.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Led by Weijun Deng from the Shanghai Institute of Technology, a team of scientists set about replicating that action in a device that could be used to objectively gauge the spiciness of foods.
—New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025
Perhaps because tomato juice is nutritious, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and the spiciness can induce a sweat, which, as people like to believe, rids the body of poisons.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
The mix of spices held a hint of spiciness, but still pretty flavorful and wasn’t overwhelming.
—Alexa Stone
january 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
Its Timur pepper offers a spiciness for an unexpected twist.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
The eau de parfum has a warm spiciness that feels inviting, not cloying.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025
The flavors of the palak paneer are perfectly balanced and medium spiciness brings just enough heat (for me).
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Basically, hop bitterness, roast malt, carbonation and alcohol can all balance sweetness and fatty richness in food, and the malty sweetness in certain beers can balance the acidity and hot spiciness of foods with those characteristics.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Led by Weijun Deng from the Shanghai Institute of Technology, a team of scientists set about replicating that action in a device that could be used to objectively gauge the spiciness of foods.
—New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025
Perhaps because tomato juice is nutritious, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and the spiciness can induce a sweat, which, as people like to believe, rids the body of poisons.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiciness
Noun
-
The man whom Navarro likes to call the Boss seems to value insincere, or bought, obeisance—the flapping and fussing of a maître d’—more than heartfelt fandom, which lacks the piquancy of humiliation.—
Ian Parker,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
-
And a jicama salad is my personal favorite, balancing heat in piquancy and chill in temperature.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Ginger contains more than 400 chemical compounds, but the anti-nausea effect primarily stems from two — gingerol and shogaol — which give the plant its pungency.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The hard edges and pungency of a relatively cheap, unaged spirit were far less visible in the Viriato samples.—
Christopher Null,
Wired News,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The egg custard is flavored with vanilla bean and orange zest.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Whisk in lime juice and zest and sugar.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Ginger is available in multiple forms, including fresh preparations, teas, culinary spices, and dietary supplements, and can be used to manage pain and discomfort associated with various inflammatory conditions.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Give your old recipe some extra color and spice and leave the potluck with an empty dish.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Natalie Erika James throws a bunch of great ideas into her fem-horror riff on body dysmorphia, shame and the tireless quest for physical perfection in a culture obsessed with youthful hotness — following in the path of The Substance and Ryan Murphy’s latest dollop of high-gloss trash, The Beauty.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
-
At the center of the fun is a drug called the Beauty, which can transform the ugliest duckling into the loveliest swan but after a while develops the unfortunate side effect described above, making hotness literal.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sour cream and cheese to add tang; pinto beans and red salsa for heartiness.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The light tang makes a delicious counterpoint to extra-sweet desserts.—
Molly Allen,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Jalapeño pepper in the dressing gives this melon salad a little zing.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
-
One practice that Swabb has been employing is adding unexpected artwork to rooms throughout her own home that need a bit of extra zing.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiciness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiciness. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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