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
Sustained support from the strings gives way to watery ripples and busy chatters, with piquant harmonic implications.
—
Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
It is often topped with crispy and raw onions, slathered with piquant sauces (including rémoulade and sweet brown mustard), and served on a toasted bun.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2025
Cosplay furthers the cause with a dazzling array of comic pop culture references, repurposed arcana, and piquant sonic signifiers from the annals of indie-rock.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2025
Try the Mezzrole, a piquant blend of French limes, Pickett’s spicy-sweet ginger syrup, and tart rice vinegar that finishes with notes of sea salt.
—Chala June, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
It is often topped with crispy and raw onions, slathered with piquant sauces (including rémoulade and sweet brown mustard), and served on a toasted bun.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2025
Cosplay furthers the cause with a dazzling array of comic pop culture references, repurposed arcana, and piquant sonic signifiers from the annals of indie-rock.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2025
Try the Mezzrole, a piquant blend of French limes, Pickett’s spicy-sweet ginger syrup, and tart rice vinegar that finishes with notes of sea salt.
—Chala June, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
-
Grilled spam, traditionally served on rice cakes, is settled onto crispy hash browns, wrapped with nori and served with a side of spicy sriracha mayo.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
-
Or there’s the adobo pork, which is this tangy, spicy pork stew.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Wormwood Like rue, wormwood is another medicinal herb that’s typically grown as an ornamental these days and enjoyed for its delightfully pungent aroma.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 May 2026
-
Those bright, vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red also repel flies and other insects thanks to their pungent odors.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
The article explored the poignant sibling renaissance between Vuong and his younger brother Nicky after the death of their mother; the decade-wide gulf between their life experiences became less notable as the process of bereavement threw them together with great intensity.—
Sarah Moroz,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Last summer, Nelson, who turned 93 in April, used the song and its poignant music video to open his performances on the Outlaw Music Festival Tour.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bright in color and flavor, the zesty lime dressing brings out the fresh flavor that is sure to be enjoyed by everyone at your gathering.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
-
Smoky paprika adds zesty flavor without added salt and is a good source of polyphenols.—
Christopher Bergland,
Verywell Health,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Take care not to overmix; keeping some larger pieces of tuna in the mix ensures a more satisfying texture, rather than something closer to tuna salad (delicious, just not the goal here).—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 May 2026
-
Le Petit Paris Counter-service breakfast and lunch orders get the French touch at this delicious bakery and cafe in an Atlantic Beach strip mall.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Leveled up with bacon, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, and a bit of liquid smoke, these beans are deeply savory and satisfying—and made to feed a hungry, hungry crowd.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
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The mix blends aromatics like onion, garlic, cinnamon, and molasses to create a sweet, salty, and savory bite.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
Anderson, like Wharton, is exciting but would also be extremely expensive, probably north of £100million.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
March 21 – April 19 A bold move could set exciting momentum in motion today.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone in my family is a fan of bread studded with salty briny olives, and this recipe takes that craving a step further, said Joe Woodhouse.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
9 May 2026
-
At Le Mura in Tropea, savor a pizza with a side of views, or hit Delizie Vaticane for picnic essentials like cheese, salumi, and mousse di cipolla (a salty-sweet spread made of the regional onion) to nosh on at Spiaggia della Contura, the town's less-crowded beach.—
Lee Marshall,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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