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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Recent Examples of piquant
This technique involves high-heat oven roasting, which deepens the tomato flavor, softens the onions and garlic, and imparts a subtle smoky note, resulting in a vibrant and piquant salsa.
—
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
From plates of Jamon Iberico and piquant tomato salads to fresh sea bass and succulent steaks, the vibe here harnesses a hyper-local sensibility that roots you in the destination.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
It’s slicked with tomato and distinguished by a piquant sweet and sour sauce (or agrodolce), studded with sharp, briny olives and capers, and sweetened with raisins and honey.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 22 July 2025
Or hamachi crudo in a piquant blend of fish sauce, lime juice, and peach.
—Lia Picard, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025
From plates of Jamon Iberico and piquant tomato salads to fresh sea bass and succulent steaks, the vibe here harnesses a hyper-local sensibility that roots you in the destination.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
It’s slicked with tomato and distinguished by a piquant sweet and sour sauce (or agrodolce), studded with sharp, briny olives and capers, and sweetened with raisins and honey.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 22 July 2025
Or hamachi crudo in a piquant blend of fish sauce, lime juice, and peach.
—Lia Picard, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
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Unlike other game-day snacks like chips or popcorn, where flavors and textures can get a little one-note after a while, ALDI’s Cajun Trail Mix keeps your taste buds entertained with different flavors—salty, sweet, and spicy—and different textures, too.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
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The sandwich options vary by protein, with choices including Spam, bacon, ham and spicy pork.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The pungent smell of weed pervaded the arena as YoungBoy performed an eclectic set, showcasing the breadth of songs in his catalog.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
-
By definition, herbs are the pungent leafy portions of certain plants, while spices are derived from seeds, fruits, flowers, or roots.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In a particularly poignant moment in the film, Jiang stands by the window at night and pretends to capture and punch the shadow of a security guard downstairs.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Another Taylor Swift album, another poignant Track 5 to listen to on repeat.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Inside are eight zesty colors of her choosing — out of Crayola’s 357 different hues — spanning yellow, blue, pink, green and purple.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
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Chorizo, a zesty pork sausage used in Mexican and Spanish cuisines, serves this goal admirably.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The world is full of delicious Negroni variations, but few and far between are the ones that work as harmoniously as this.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
4 Oct. 2025
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Meaty, creamy and simply delicious!—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some of the world’s largest makers of salty, savory and sweet treats have flagged weakness in their snack portfolio, Josephson said, adding that many of these companies had dramatically hiked their prices in recent years.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
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Raw, cured, seared and dry-aged fish arrive one after the other; a recent menu also included sea urchin, savory egg custard with snow crab and marbled tofu.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There was blood and thunder, and the encounter was saltier than a pitch seasoned by Pisa’s former owner Romeo Anconetani who used to superstitiously spread the stuff around the ground before games.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Some of the world’s largest makers of salty, savory and sweet treats have flagged weakness in their snack portfolio, Josephson said, adding that many of these companies had dramatically hiked their prices in recent years.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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