piquant

pi·quant

adjective \ˈpē-kənt, -ˌkänt; ˈpi-kwənt\

Definition of PIQUANT

1

: agreeably stimulating to the palate; especially : spicy

2

: engagingly provocative; also : having a lively arch charm

— pi·quant·ly adverb

— pi·quant·ness noun

Examples of PIQUANT

1. piquant vegetables seasoned with pepper
2. He served the fish with a piquant sauce.
3. a piquant bit of gossip

Origin of PIQUANT

Middle French, from present participle of piquer

First Known Use: 1630

Related to PIQUANT

Synonyms

pert, poignant, pungent, salty, savory (also savoury), zesty, zingy

Antonyms

insipid, zestless

Related Words

racy, spicy; fiery, gingery, hot, peppery, vinegary; acute, keen; biting, bitter, cutting, mordant, trenchant; animating, energizing, enlightening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, piquing, provocative, provoking; ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, delicious, luscious, palatable, scrumptious, toothsome; flavorful, savorous, tasty; absorbing, arresting, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, interesting, intriguing, riveting

Near Antonyms

flat, flavorless, savorless, tasteless; arid, banal, barren, boring, colorless, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, numbing, pedestrian, ponderous, predictable, stale, stodgy, tedious, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, wearying; bland, dilute, thin, watery, weak

See Synonym Discussion at pungent

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with PIQUANT

avaunt, bacchant, bacchante, bouffant, courante, détente, entente, Fremont, gallant, grandaunt, piedmont, Piedmont, romaunt, savant, sirvente, Vermont