piquant

adjective

pi·​quant ˈpē-kənt 

-ˌkänt;

ˈpi-kwənt 

1

: engagingly provocative

also : having a lively arch charm

2

: agreeably stimulating to the taste

especially : spicy

piquantly adverb

piquantness noun

Did you know?

Piquant flavors "sting" the tongue and piquant words "prick" the intellect, arousing interest. These varying senses reflect the etymology of the word piquant, which first appeared in English in the 17th century and which derives from the Middle French verb piquer, meaning "to sting" or "to prick." Though first used to describe foods with spicy flavors, the word is now often used to describe things that are spicy in other ways, such as engaging conversation. Have we piqued your curiosity about another piquer offspring? If you’ve already guessed that the verb pique, meaning "to offend" or "to arouse by provocation," comes from piquer, too, you’ve got a sharp mind.

Synonyms

• pert
• poignant
• pungent
• salty
• savory
• savoury
• zesty
• zingy

Choose the Right Synonym for piquant

pungent, piquant, poignant, racy mean sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses.

pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

Examples of piquant in a Sentence

piquant vegetables seasoned with pepper

He served the fish with a piquant sauce.

a piquant bit of gossip

Recent Examples on the Web

And the supporting roles are all filled with piquant performers (Sara Gettelfinger, Stan Brown, Wade McCollum) who are credibly circuslike, except for one strange anomaly: The clown (Joe De Paul) is actually funny. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024

When Aufidius interacts with Coriolanus — including in a scene that shows off Bess Kaye’s aptly slashing, grappling fight choreography — there’s a piquant frenemy vibe. —Celia Wren, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

For the centenary of the Black composer Julia Perry’s birth, the Experiential Orchestra mounts a four-day festival, which closes at Alice Tully Hall with Perry’s aching Prelude for Strings and her piquant Violin Concerto (March 16). —The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024

Renowned as the cradle of wasabi cultivation, Shizuoka offers no shortage of opportunities to savor Japan’s piquant treasure. —Jonny Bierman, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024

At times harmonies were clearly tonal, at others piquant dissonances sounded over dominant seventh rhythmic grooves. —Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024

The shrimp had a nice snap to it and served as an excellent vessel for the piquant, faintly sweet cocktail sauce. —The Indianapolis Star, 19 Jan. 2024

With each bite, the flavors ping-pong between spicy, sweet and piquant. —Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024

In Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, Strings and Continuo in D minor (BWV 1043), Koh and Laredo seemed to tell a story about their former dynamic as student/teacher at Curtis: Koh’s lines were bright, lively and piquant; Laredo’s rustic and leathery. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from present participle of piquer

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

piquant

adjective

pi·​quant ˈpē-kənt  -ˌkänt 

1

: agreeably stimulating to the taste

especially : spicy sense 1

2

: pleasingly exciting

a piquant bit of gossip

piquantly adverb