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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
  • Glade Plug-In Apple Cinnamon Refills, 5-Pack This fragrance is a little sweet, a little spicy, and 100 percent comforting — definitely not your typical overpowering air freshener.
    Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Rally’s is launching two new spicy Western-style burgers in California.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • To be going home to Sunday dinner at one o’clock, sweat socks pungent from twenty-one innings of softball, underwear athletically gamy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Spices like cinnamon or nutmeg typically work best for sweet dishes, while cloves or other types of spice blends usually pair best with more pungent, savory ones.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Directed by Seryeong Jeong, this poignant drama reveals how empathy can bloom even in darkness.
    Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Gypsy had originally been adopted from the same shelter years before, making her return especially poignant for staff and volunteers.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • White wine, shallots, and lemon zest and juice build on what the butter and garlic get started, and a couple tablespoons of capers give the dish a zesty tang.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
  • According to information obtained by PEOPLE, Retro Diet Coke Lime is returning to shelves nationwide, with its signature zesty lime kick that first won hearts before being discontinued in 2018.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Give your slow-cooker the night off because this fan-favorite chili relies on the Instant Pot for a quick and delicious option.
    Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The local food scene has been heating up with dozens of delicious Indian restaurants.
    Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The smoky-sweet sauce on the tender pulled brisket beautifully balances the creamy, savory macaroni and cheese.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
  • From savory chili to a decadent tiramisu, here are 7 ways to make the most of Autumn’s best flavor.
    The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Our food was mainly cooked with salty water brought from wells—generated by some neighbors’ solar panels.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Desalination The Texas Water Development Board estimates there’s approximately 3 billion acre feet of salty brackish groundwater in the state.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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