racier; raciest
1
a
: full of zest or vigor
b
: having a strongly marked quality : piquant
a racy flavor
c
: risqué, suggestive
racy jokes
2
: having the distinctive quality of something in its original or most characteristic form
racily adverb
raciness noun

racy

2 of 2

adjective (2)

racier; raciest
: having a body or shape that is suited for racing
a racy dog
a car with racy lines
Choose the Right Synonym for racy

pungent, piquant, poignant, racy mean sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses.

pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

Examples of racy in a Sentence

Adjective (1) vivid writing and a racy plot that keeps readers turning the pages a raunchy comedy with language that was a little too racy for an eight-year-old child
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The ample cleavage instantly made the otherwise-demure look feel racy—risqué, even! Christian Allaire, Vogue, 26 June 2024 In the original, Bobby is a commitment-phobic bachelor with multiple girlfriends – racy in 1970, not so much today. Jordan Riefe, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 July 2024 In the racy visual, the 36-year-old applies (likely Fenty Beauty) lipgloss, wearing an assortment of heels, jewelry, outerwear, and lingerie. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 30 July 2024 The gentleman pouring a racy chardonnay by Bailly Lapierre, a co-op best known for sparkling wines, had just two words for me: Trader Joe’s. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for racy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'racy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

race entry 1

Adjective (2)

race entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective (2)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of racy was circa 1650

Dictionary Entries Near racy

Cite this Entry

“Racy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racy. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

racy

1 of 2 adjective
racier; raciest
1
: full of energy or keen enjoyment
2
: slightly indecent or improper
racy jokes
racily adverb
raciness noun

racy

2 of 2 adjective
racier; raciest
: being long-bodied and lean

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