# spicy

/ˈspaɪsi/ (US) · /spˈaɪsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spicy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. hot food

adjective · CEFR B1

having a strong, hot flavor that makes your mouth feel like it is burning.

For teachers: producing a pungent or burning sensation on the palate, typically due to the presence of capsaicin or strong spices.

- I love spicy food, but this curry is a bit too hot for me.
- The chef recommended the spicy lamb dish, noting that the heat was balanced by a cooling yogurt sauce and fresh coriander.

### 2. scandalous or exciting

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

exciting because it involves secrets, gossip, or slightly shocking details.

For teachers: containing elements of scandal, gossip, or mild impropriety that provoke interest or excitement.

- The magazine promised some spicy details about the celebrity's private life.
- The leaked emails contained several spicy exchanges between the executives that the company had hoped to keep confidential.

### 3. provocative or risky

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

used online to describe a comment or opinion that is bold, aggressive, or likely to cause an argument.

For teachers: describing content or opinions that are intentionally provocative, controversial, or mildly aggressive in an online context.

- He posted a spicy take on the new movie that started a huge debate.
- The moderator warned the user that their spicy comments were bordering on harassment and might lead to a temporary ban from the forum.

### 4. suggestive or sexy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

having a sexual or suggestive quality that is exciting but not quite pornographic.

For teachers: suggestive or racy in nature; often used to describe romantic fiction or social media content with sexual undertones.

- She enjoys reading spicy romance novels during her summer holidays.
- The influencer was careful to label her spicy photos correctly to avoid violating the platform's community guidelines regarding suggestive content.

## Examples

- This curry is very spicy and makes my eyes water.
- The chef added extra chili flakes to the sauce to satisfy customers who prefer a spicy kick to their meal.
- While the primary dish was relatively mild, the accompanying salsa provided a spicy contrast that elevated the entire flavor profile of the traditional street food.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.