Synonyms of piquant

piquant

adjective

ˈpē-kənt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spicy
• pungent
• poignant
• savoury
• zesty
• delicious
• savory
• salty
• pert
• biting
• fascinating
• zingy
• provocative
• peppery
• interesting
• vinegary
• acute
• trenchant
• flavorful
• racy
• exciting
• hot
• provoking
• intriguing
• enlightening
• fiery
• mordant
• delectable
• scrumptious
• appetizing
• tasty
• toothsome
• energizing
• keen
• gripping
• galvanizing
• luscious
• absorbing
• ambrosial
• engrossing
• riveting
• enthralling
• gingery
• cutting
• engaging
• bitter
• invigorating
• palatable
• animating
• arresting
• savorous
• piquing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insipid
• dry
• flat
• tasteless
• predictable
• arid
• tedious
• dull
• banal
• monotonous
• boring
• uninteresting
• ponderous
• drab
• leaden
• wearisome
• humdrum
• barren
• thin
• colorless
• stale
• dreary
• zestless
• weak
• numbing
• stodgy
• pedestrian
• flavorless
• tiring
• bland
• savorless
• dilute
• watery
• wearying

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective piquant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of piquant are poignant, pungent, and racy. While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

In what contexts can poignant take the place of piquant?

Although the words poignant and piquant have much in common, poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

When is it sensible to use pungent instead of piquant?

The synonyms pungent and piquant are sometimes interchangeable, but pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

When might racy be a better fit than piquant?

The words racy and piquant can be used in similar contexts, but racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of piquant

And to think, this pitiless conquistador came to North America as a humble kitchen herb, deliberately imported by European settlers for its piquant flavor. —Zoë Lescaze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

Guests enjoyed small bites of briny mussels filled with Bluefin tuna, piquant gochujang sardine toasts, and an elegant Korean beef tartare. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 May 2025

The brand contacts bartender Simon Difford for help with an original launch cocktail, and Difford immediately recognizes the capacity of St-Germain to complement the piquant fruit, floral, and mineral qualities in white wine. —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 10 May 2025

And here’s the piquant spoiler: To a man, the three list Baeza high in their picks. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

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