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
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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
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In total, Klan dues paying membership in its peak year of 1925 was between four and five million, not counting the sugar and spice women’s auxiliary groups.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
15 Aug. 2025
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My pimento cheese sandwich was a delicious mix of the traditional tangy cheese, mayonnaise and red pepper with just a hint of sweet and spice from the hot honey.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Swap plain butter for compound butter loaded with herbs, chili flakes, garlic, lemon zest, or grated cheese to upgrade your corn and your bread in one move.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
8 Aug. 2025
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In a bowl, combine the coarse salt, reduced wine, lemon zest, and herbs.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piquancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquancy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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