Meaning & use

spicy

adjective·Everyday

Having a strong, pungent flavor, often from chili peppers or other hot spices.

See it in a sentence

The curry was too spicy for the children, so the cook made a milder version.

He added extra hot sauce because he loved food that was very spicy.

A note on using this word

Informally, spicy can also describe gossip, jokes, or situations that are risqué or scandalous.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Informal: exciting, scandalous, or slightly risqué, especially referring to gossip or content.

The tabloid ran a spicy story about the celebrity couple's breakup.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “spicy”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.