as in spice
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses
a talk show host known for the quickness and piquancy of his wit I appreciated the piquancy of the peppers in the sauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 piquancy
But there’s a special spice, a special piquancy, to our Reacherism right now.
—
James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2024
Tender chunks of pork shoulder are braised in an aromatic broth of onions, garlic, serrano chiles and, most notably, green Hatch chiles, which cut through the rich stew with their distinctive piquancy.
—Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2023
While its distinctive piquancy might throw some off, that very taste is what keeps it on the South Korean table week after week.
—Violet Kim, CNN, 28 June 2023
Just enough to assert its piquancy and hint at the dish’s roots.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 21 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2024
Tender chunks of pork shoulder are braised in an aromatic broth of onions, garlic, serrano chiles and, most notably, green Hatch chiles, which cut through the rich stew with their distinctive piquancy.
—Ben Mims, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2023
While its distinctive piquancy might throw some off, that very taste is what keeps it on the South Korean table week after week.
—Violet Kim, CNN, 28 June 2023
Just enough to assert its piquancy and hint at the dish’s roots.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 21 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquancy
Noun
-
The blending of Mateo's alone already had me on its side, and then the punch of flavor without any lingering spice sold me.—
Katherine Polcari,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
-
This means that each botanical is macerated in the spirit for a different length of time and at a specific ABV, which Gabriel believes allows the flavor of the particular spice, herb, or flower to truly shine through.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Blackberry Filling: Directions In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest, cinnamon and salt until evenly combined.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
-
Fresh blueberries are delicately folded into a sweet batter alongside lemon zest and honey.—
Ronny Maye,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piquancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquancy. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share