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
And a jicama salad is my personal favorite, balancing heat in piquancy and chill in temperature.
—
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquancy
Noun
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Seasoned with a blend of soy, garlic, sesame and spice, the Ramyeon McShaker Fries are inspired by Rumi, Mira and Zoey's go-to noodle snack.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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A little kick from spices in the meats made the sandwich all the tastier.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Recipe information Finely grate 1 large garlic clove and the zest of 1 lemon into a large bowl.—
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
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Yet even this three-act work bows, at its center, to American zest.—
Guillermo Perez,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piquancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquancy. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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