peppery
/ˈpɛp.ər.i/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Having a sharp, hot taste like black pepper. It can also mean slightly rude, angry, or likely to argue.
- This soup tastes a bit peppery.
- He gave me a peppery reply.
- The sauce is peppery and warm.
Adinary Nuance
Peppery is close to spicy, hot, and piquant, but it usually suggests a pepper taste more than chilli heat. For people, it means short-tempered or touchy, not simply energetic. Writers choose it when they want a sharper, slightly old-fashioned feeling.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- cay tiêu
- Spanish
- pimientoso
- Chinese
- 胡椒味的
- Japanese
- 胡椒のような
- Korean
- 후추 맛의
Etymology
Peppery comes from pepper, which entered English from Old French and Latin. The adjective has been used in English since the 1600s.
Common phrases
peppery saucepeppery tastea peppery remark
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is peppery a food word or a personality word?
- It can be both. It often describes taste, but it can also describe a person who is irritable.
- What is the difference between peppery and spicy?
- Peppery suggests the taste of pepper. Spicy is broader and can include chilli and other strong spices.
- Is peppery formal or informal?
- It is neutral, but the personality meaning sounds a little literary or old-fashioned.
- Can I use peppery in business writing?
- Yes, for taste in food writing. For people, it is less common in business writing.