spice 1 of 2

noun

ˈspīs How to pronounce spice (audio)
Definition of spicenext
1
as in scent
a sweet or pleasant smell a cologne for men that captures all of the spice of the sea

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flavor
something (as a spice or herb) that adds an agreeable or interesting taste to food Europe in Columbus's time imported rare and valuable spices from the Indies

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3
as in zest
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses a new hobby will add spice to your life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spice

2 of 2

verb

as in to flavor
to make more pleasant to the taste by adding something intensely flavored spice the stew with more pepper

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spice
Noun
Our chef ladles out bowls of harira, a thick tomato-y soup spiked with beans, herbs, and spices. — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 His stars both pork shoulder and liver, plus two types of fresh chiles, a glut of spices and, of course, white rice. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
This masala chai is unapologetically gingery, warmly spiced with cinnamon and cardamom, and just sweet enough from maple syrup. — Carla Lalli Music, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026 This easy version features onion and bell pepper, spiced with garlic, cumin, and oregano. — Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spice
  1. scent
  2. flavor
  3. zest
  4. fragrance
  5. flavoring
  6. piquancy
  7. aroma
  8. tang
Noun
  • Tyler placed it between us with an elegant flourish; the steam carried the scent of glorious-secret spices.
    — Larry Padgett, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The second-place winner was fragrance house French Cowboy, which was founded in 2025 by Ashley Santiago and Adrien Ollat, and collaborates with different creatives on the scents.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of scent
Noun
  • Unlike past rallies, Edly-Allen said Indivisible Northeast Lake County emphasized the nonpartisan flavor of Saturday’s event.
    — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Food and drink True to Miami form, Royal Palm South Beach offers its own spin on Latin and Caribbean flavors, especially at The Paloma Club, an alfresco restaurant overlooking the pool.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of flavor
Noun
  • Contreras’ zest for the game is evident from his home run celebrations.
    — Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Those lists are mighty useful for publicists and for in-the-know travelers who love that zeitgeist zest – but, personally, my favorite bar of 2026 is an Irish pub in North London with a pool table, karaoke and 10 flavors of Baileys.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of zest
Noun
  • Both are meant to be used just before serving to keep the fragrance intact.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Piper Sandler’s annual teen survey — polling 9,000 teens across 47 states — shows overall beauty spend swelled 7 percent this year, with growth across all key categories, including cosmetics, skin care, hair and fragrance.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of fragrance
Noun
  • Later that day, at the other end of the sprawling coastal city, an inspection team arrived unannounced at a factory for food flavorings and bakery additives.
    — Zishaan a Latif, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Be mindful of the nutrition label when buying peanut butter or oatmeal and avoid varieties with additives, sugar, and flavorings.
    — Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of flavoring
Noun
  • Those split levels of child and adult consciousness give the film a certain piquancy, a little gap where drama can spark in a story where almost nothing really happens except a kid takes a plane ride, or several plane rides, with his mom.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • That Mann himself had written stories on gay themes added to the piquancy of the encounter.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of piquancy
Noun
  • The sweet, woody scent of Georgia pines blended with the wafting aroma of sizzling hot dogs and hamburgers.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • For nearly two decades, Pena and his wife have run a Dominican restaurant in Allentown, where the aroma of crispy pastelillos and savory rice fills the dining room.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of aroma
Noun
  • The pickled papaya salad on top lends the loveliest bit of sweet tang and a little crunch.
    — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • When fully deployed, the titanium lockbar moves directly behind the blade tang to establish lockup.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of tang

Browse Nearby Words

sphinxlike
spice
spiced
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Cite this Entry

“Spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spice. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on spice

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spice

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