pepper

verb

Definition of peppernext
1
as in to spray
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on pepper the costume with flecks of glitter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to sprinkle
to mark with small spots especially unevenly spilled flour peppered the kitchen floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pepper That meant Burnham and his Cabinet were peppered during the conference with questions about security lapses and potential state threats from Iran or Russia. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Noe was eager to nerd out about songwriting and records, peppering the conversation with praise for everyone from the Ohio indie band Wussy to the country singer Ashley McBryde. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026 Television commercials featuring the likes of Alabama great Nick Saban have peppered college football broadcasts this month, and Cruz appeared on ESPN's College GameDay to promote the bill. — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 28 Sep. 2026 So there’s some fun to be had with little scenes that can be peppered throughout the season. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pepper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pepper
  1. spray
  2. sprinkle
  3. dot
Verb
  • The shared affinity was clear in the celebration, as Mesa sprayed Cash with alcohol, and Vilade and Erik Neander, the team’s president of baseball operations, embraced while Vilade was interviewed.
    — Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Sprinkler heads can become misaligned, damaged, clogged, or otherwise defective, causing water to spray onto sidewalks and other areas where people walk.
    — Christyne D. Santisteban, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of spray
Verb
  • The songs, contemporary pop sprinkled with disco pixie dust, are of a piece with the tone of Benanti’s self-skewering comedy.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Cora, Dombrowski’s manager with the 2018 World Series champion Boston Red Sox, isn’t going to walk into the Phillies’ clubhouse and sprinkle magic pixie dust on a club that clearly is trending in the wrong direction.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sprinkle
Verb
  • The backstory Eagle-eyed guests will spot the curious Greek elements dotted around—the urns in the bathroom, the Acropolis paintings in the dining room, the Hellenic motif on the plates.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Arid, rolling hills, dotted with saguaro cactuses, sat beneath the large blue sky.
    — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of dot

Browse Nearby Words

pepped (up)
pepper
peppered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pepper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pepper. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pepper

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pepper

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