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
The most notable part of this gag was not the joke itself, a standard late-night quip delivered with appropriate piquancy.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquancy
Noun
-
Ginger is available in multiple forms, including fresh preparations, teas, culinary spices, and dietary supplements, and can be used to manage pain and discomfort associated with various inflammatory conditions.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Give your old recipe some extra color and spice and leave the potluck with an empty dish.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Serve immediately, topped with more lemon zest and dill, and a generous drizzle of oil.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Add the lemon zest and juice, olives, parsley, then fold in the pasta, adding more stock as needed.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piquancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquancy. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
