PIQUANT Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'piquant' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of piquant are poignant , pungent , and racy . While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency. // a piquant sauce

Q: In what contexts can 'poignant' take the place of 'piquant'?

Although the words poignant and piquant have much in common, poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions. // felt a poignant sense of loss

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pungent' instead of 'piquant'?

The synonyms pungent and piquant are sometimes interchangeable, but pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors. // a cheese with a pungent odor

Q: When might 'racy' be a better fit than 'piquant'?

The words racy and piquant can be used in similar contexts, but racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired. // spontaneous, racy prose

piquant

adjective

ˈpē-kənt

Definition of piquant next

as in spicy

sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a piquant tidbit of information about the new neighbors the piquant cuisine of India boasts some highly spiced dishes

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How does the adjective piquant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of piquant are poignant, pungent, and racy. While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

In what contexts can poignant take the place of piquant?

Although the words poignant and piquant have much in common, poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

When is it sensible to use pungent instead of piquant?

The synonyms pungent and piquant are sometimes interchangeable, but pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

When might racy be a better fit than piquant?

The words racy and piquant can be used in similar contexts, but racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

Examples of piquant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The author, perhaps Ireland’s foremost public intellectual, employs a unique combination of intimately personal narrative, piquant facts and figures, and sharp (often ironic) commentary to describe the experience of this transformation. —

Fintan O'Toole, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022 Advertisement Add some spice to that sweating glass of ice tea and drink deeply of these piquant novels. —

Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024 Add a touch of earthy, fruity perfume in the form of maraschino liqueur and some piquant spice and depth from absinthe to a standard Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail? —

Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for piquant

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'piquant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.