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
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
The spicy Korean burger is for the more adventurous among us, but the piquant pickled slaw on top is super addictive.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
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
The spicy Korean burger is for the more adventurous among us, but the piquant pickled slaw on top is super addictive.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
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Her trick is to finely chop the ginger, instead of grating it, so there are spicy-sweet nubs in each bite.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
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Odd pieces that are too small or irregularly shaped to cut into sashimi can be easily minced for spicy poke.—
Stella Fong,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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According to a post on Facebook by the New Zealand Police, a volunteer at the store noticed a pungent aroma before opening the bag, and found multiple small bags of marijuana and a large wad of cash.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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The native of Roi Et, a small village in Northeast Thailand, learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother and carries forth their legacy with pungent pad ka pow and succulent roast chicken with crackling skin.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The fact that match took place in Libreville was unbelievably poignant.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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And throughout the years, unexpectedly and unintentionally, Out On A Limb has bumped up against world news events that Martinez said only make the work feel even more poignant and timely.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Together the flavor is muddled, slightly discordant, but alone the Irish whiskey gets to sing, its apples and pears and slight malt and gentle touch a perfect foil to the zesty front palate of the lemon and the deep finish of the almonds.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
7 Mar. 2026
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The zesty sauce complements the yellow cornmeal while also pairing well with the pepper.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And a recent trip to Costco had the perfect restaurant copycat product to kick things off in delicious, budget-friendly style.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
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Today, visitors can still tour its founding castle and its Museum of Arms, stroll its cobblestone streets, and duck into its delicious restaurants serving traditional meals.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sample a taste of Cincinnati Enjoy buttery Belgian waffles, savory German goetta, Cincinnati chili on a classic coney and Graeter’s famous ice cream.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
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Each bite of these French Onion Pork Chops is deeply savory, sweet, and so comforting.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Kurt's key takeaways Security updates rarely feel exciting.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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Houston should be one of the most exciting teams in the tournament, and that’s in large part because of Flemings.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Pretzel pieces, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and colorful candies fulfill your sweet and salty cravings.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
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Included in Forbes’ annual Best Places to Retire list, Virginia Beach is a desirable spot for those retirees who want to spend their next chapter fishing, biking, exploring nature, and soaking up the salty air.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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