piquant

adjective pi·quant \ ˈpē-kənt , -ˌkänt ; ˈpi-kwənt \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: piquant in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of piquant

1 : engagingly provocative; also : having a lively arch charm

2 : agreeably stimulating to the taste; especially : spicy

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piquantly

adverb

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piquantness

noun

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See piquant defined for kids

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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 of piquant from the Web

Smart horror is turning out to be the piquant flavor of the season in smaller theater offerings.

— kerry reid, chicagotribune.com, "What are we doing here? Gentrification issues and real scares in 'The Displaced'," 7 June 2018
What ensues arises from a deft and caring combination of engaging pantomimic gesture and demanding ballet dancing—here, simple pattern-making; there, piquant with the pointework favored in imperial Russia as signifying steel toes.

— robert greskovic, WSJ, "‘Harlequinade’ Review: Humor and History Take Center Stage," 6 June 2018
Nancy Floyd's daily photographic self-portraits over 35 years situate the artist in her home or work environment, delivering more piquant period flavor.

— leah ollman, latimes.com, "One bed photo per day, for years and years: Mesmerizing moments from an art show about daily life," 9 Apr. 2018
Musically, guests can expect a piquant blend of Armenian jazz and folk tunes.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "Unfurling the Rich Tapestry of Armenian Culture," 25 June 2018
The reader quickly grows comfortable inhabiting two worlds 30 years apart, and a piquant energy is kicked up by the contrasts: how the evolutions of one era’s ensemble shaped those of a later one.

— joan frank, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘The Great Believers,’ by Rebecca Makkai," 14 June 2018
Sauce piquant carries echoes of other cuisines, too, that have intermingled in Louisiana’s kitchens.

— keith pandolfi, WSJ, "The Spicy Red Sauce That Goes With Everything," 14 Mar. 2018
Whether in the dressing room or backstage, the conversation is authentically piquant in its shifts between confidence and uncertainty as discussions pivot among topics including masturbation, life ambitions and how to lose one’s virginity.

— New York Times, "Review: ‘Dance Nation,’ the Power and the Terror of Girls at 13," 8 May 2018
Sorrell led her instrumentalists with vigor and a fine ear for Monteverdi's piquant musical textures, and the chorus, in simple costumes reminiscent of Greek pastoral garb, was pitch-perfect.

— special to the plain dealer, cleveland.com, "Apollo's Fire ascends with affecting production of 'L'Orfeo' (review)," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'piquant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of piquant

Middle French, from present participle of piquer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1616

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

piquant Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.