peppery

UK: /ˈpɛpəri/ US: /ˈpɛpəri/ ,(pep′ə rē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pep•per•y /ˈpɛpəri/   adj. 

1. of, full of, or tasting like pepper.
2. sharp or stinging:
   a peppery speech.
3. easily angered.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pep•per•y  (pep′ə rē), adj. 

1. full of or tasting like pepper;
   hot;
   pungent.
2. of, pertaining to, or resembling pepper.
3. sharp or stinging:
   a peppery speech.
4. easily angered;
   bad-tempered;
   irritable;
   irascible:
   the peppery leader of a political faction.

• pepper + -y¹ 1690–1700

pep′per•i•ly, adv. 
pep′per•i•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. spicy.
• 3. biting.
• 4. hot-tempered, hot-headed, testy, choleric.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

peppery / ˈpɛpərɪ/ adjective

1. flavoured with or tasting of pepper
2. quick-tempered; irritable
3. full of bite and sharpness: a peppery speech

ˈpepperiness noun