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
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
Splendid orange animal piper on the label of this 14% alcohol wine that includes piqued and piquant aromas of blue fruit, vanilla, orange peels, wet granite, fern glen, soda lime and flint.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Raw tuna is often presented in ways that emphasize its subtlety and richness; here, instead, all those piquant, pickly bits seem to give the fish’s oceanic sweetness permission to flex and flow, revealing its character the way a few drops of water open up a rare single malt.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Even a humble staple like queso is elevated with smokey undertones, a version so good that it can easily be eaten by the spoonful, alternating with the addictively piquant salsa verde that comes to the table with warm tortilla chips.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
Splendid orange animal piper on the label of this 14% alcohol wine that includes piqued and piquant aromas of blue fruit, vanilla, orange peels, wet granite, fern glen, soda lime and flint.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Raw tuna is often presented in ways that emphasize its subtlety and richness; here, instead, all those piquant, pickly bits seem to give the fish’s oceanic sweetness permission to flex and flow, revealing its character the way a few drops of water open up a rare single malt.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Even a humble staple like queso is elevated with smokey undertones, a version so good that it can easily be eaten by the spoonful, alternating with the addictively piquant salsa verde that comes to the table with warm tortilla chips.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
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To correct for this, astronauts tend to prefer spicy foods or adding spicy sauces, like sriracha, tabasco or red pepper paste.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
1 May 2025
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Simple things like eating more protein, high-intensity interval training, lifting weights, avoiding skipping meals, drinking the right things, eating more spicy foods, and getting enough sleep can all significantly increase your metabolic rate.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The flapjack was fluffy, the taters were crunchy and buttery, the chorizo had a spicy kick, and the pungent sourdough bread crunched.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
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According to a Newsweek report on a YouGov poll, more than 80% of Americans consider disruptive behaviors—such as letting children play in the aisles, or eating pungent food—to be unacceptable.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
The film offers a poignant exploration of identity, reclamation, and community through the lens of a viral meme.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
2 May 2025
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The formal complexity and poignant quietude of Jia’s filmmaking haven’t endeared him much to previous Cannes juries, and for some this latest entry, with its dizzying chains of intertextuality, must have seemed imposing to the point of being indecipherable.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The All-American Mom Patz & Hall North Coast Brut Sparkling, CA: A crisp and zesty expression of 100% Chardonnay from cool climate vineyards.—
Katie Kelly Bell,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Taco Bell said its nuggets are marinated in a zesty jalapeño buttermilk flavor and breaded with a blend of breadcrumbs and crispy tortilla chips.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This countertop oven bakes the perfect pizza, delicious cookies and toasts evenly.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
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Each chapter takes you right into a nonna's home in a different region—the pages read like a delicious road trip through the country.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Try adding them as breakfast toppings, pairing them with a savory lunch, or blending them into smoothies to help boost your strawberry consumption.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2025
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Most gardeners grow culinary sage for its aromatic leaves, which can be used to flavor roasted dishes, soups, and other savory treats, but sage is a versatile herb that can also be cultivated as an ornamental or interplanted in containers or vegetable gardens as a pest-repelling companion plant.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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In Robert Eggers' period psychological thriller, Dafoe is a salty and kooky lighthouse keeper who mentors a young rookie (Robert Pattinson), and even nonstop drinking can't stop severe isolation from taking hold of the newbie.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2025
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Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt on the other hand adds a contrast between juicy sweetness and salty minerality that creates an unexpected complexity that works beautifully.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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