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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of piquant The sauce is a piquant blend of tomato and vinegar that complements the pork shoulder. Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025 But none of these things feels piquant in this production. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025 In addition to an extended flowering season and piquant fragrance, catmints attract lots of pollinators and deter deer. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025 In addition to an extended flowering season and piquant fragrance, catmints attract lots of pollinators and deter deer. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for piquant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
  • Some Asian ingredients include spicy xo sauce, Japanese snow crab and A5 Miyazaki Gyu, a top-grade Japanese wagyu beef.
    Samantha Husted, Charlotte Observer, 5 June 2025
  • Both of our children were a week past their due dates...so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work - there was only one thing left to do!
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Mount Dora study IDs likely source of pungent mystery smell Politics US sends 68 migrants back to Honduras and Colombia in first voluntary deportation The migrants disembarked with $1,000 debit cards from the U.S. government.
    South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025
  • Mount Dora study IDs likely source of pungent mystery smell Average rate on a US 30-year mortgage holds steady at 6.76%, not far from highest levels this year Politics Egg prices finally dropped, but the cost of beef hit a record high last month.
    Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • After a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Obama gave a poignant speech and called for an assault-weapons ban, which didn’t pass; after a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, Ardern gave a poignant speech and called for an assault-weapons ban, which did.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Today, the heath hen serves as a poignant reminder: even a species that seems secure can vanish within the span of a human lifetime.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • And the Cauliflower Lemon Blend, Coxwell’s personal favorite, has a light and zesty flavor that’s a great alternative for a healthy, creamless white sauce for most recipes.
    Moná Thomas, People.com, 6 June 2025
  • The core straight bourbon expression is light, zesty, and packed with flavor.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • My favorite way to use it up is by making zucchini butter—a luscious, versatile spread that is just as delicious on sandwiches as it is tossed with pasta.
    Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 May 2025
  • Fried rice is delicious on its own, but a block of extra-firm tofu can make this dish significantly more substantial and filling.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ranch: Smooth, rich and irresistibly savory – our Ranch Snack Wrap delivers a satisfying burst of cool ranch goodness, with hints of garlic and onion.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 4 June 2025
  • After its time in bourbon casks, the whiskey was portioned into: French Muscat casks, which added floral and earthy notes—lavender, honey, even something savory.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Preserved anchovies are much saltier than sardines, so they’re usually eaten in smaller quantities or used to enhance other flavors.
    Helen Carefoot, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
  • This is a completely new spin on the potluck classic, with a sweet and salty peanut sauce that keeps that creamy texture while giving the vegetables a boost of umami.
    Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

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