piqued 1 of 2

adjective

as in infuriated

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piqued

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pique
1
as in annoyed
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts her seat companion piqued her by repeatedly poking her in the ribs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in provoked
to rouse to strong feeling or action their sarcastic comments piqued him to respond in kind

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in prided
to think highly of (oneself) she piques herself on her considerable musical abilities

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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 piqued
Verb
If the success of Sleeping Dogs piqued an interest in his talent, this is the drama that really fulfilled his potential almost immediately. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026 In a conversation with The Times, Amaya embodied the corporate synergy that has piqued interest in his show. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Roads a riddle near Micron plants So far, though, there are scant few homes in the area the city calls East Columbia, though interest in developing the area has piqued along with Micron’s fabs. — Mark Dee july 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 July 2026 While the Paschalls are regular voters, the governor's race piqued their interest. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 30 June 2026 My interest in the original names in and around NYC piqued in college during an assignment of stories for a New York magazine-style newspaper. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026 But while that may have piqued Perry’s interest, the show creator knew the reality star was the right man for the job after what happened next. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 Markle opted for the above black-and-white version, but the vanilla and mauve combination also piqued my interest. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 24 June 2026 Many people have worn the shoes on European vacations, which immediately piqued my interest since I’m headed to Italy this summer. — Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piqued
  1. outraged
  2. annoyed
  3. provoked
  4. prided
  5. angry
  6. bothered
  7. encouraged
  8. congratulated
Adjective
  • Mosley’s attorney, Paul London, said his client posted the video to social media looking for attention — but didn’t bargain for the outraged response from animal lovers that forced him to flee his Bronx apartment.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026
  • European soccer fans, the Belgian national soccer federation, the Union of European Football Associations, and many other commentators were outraged that Balogun's unjust red card had essentially been delayed.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of outraged
Verb
  • Club homeowners are not merely annoyed by tourist bonanzas like the World Cup — Airbnb is FIFA’s official lodging partner — or the Ultra music festival, Spring Break and Formula 1 weekend.
    — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • The equalising goal came in first-half stoppage time, with Norway coach Stale Solbakken visibly annoyed with referee Clement Turpin at the half-time interval.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of annoyed
Verb
  • Montgomery’s death provoked an outpouring of heartfelt support.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • What the 1998 demolition unexpectedly uncovered roiled Miami and provoked a worldwide outcry — a mysterious set of 24 holes carved into the limestone bedrock in a perfect circle, 38 feet in diameter.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of provoked
Verb
  • Such events were a calling card for his campaign, which prided itself on a willingness to go anywhere to rally voters.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has prided himself on finding ways to elevate his game.
    — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of prided
Adjective
  • Around the world, angry locals displaced from their neighborhoods by the high cost of living are revolting against the $135 billion short-term rental industry.
    — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • In person, the range-topping Spider looks hilariously boxy up front, deliciously wedgy from the side, and surprisingly angry from the back.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 15 July 2026
Definition of angry
Verb
  • The knee has mostly bothered Ohtani on the mound, rather than at the plate.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • As of the time of this writing, almost four months after its publication, the text still contains a typo in its opening lines, suggesting to me that no one close to the author has even bothered to read it with care.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of bothered
Verb
  • During the pandemic boom, cheap money, soaring asset prices, and speculative demand encouraged galleries to expand rapidly—adding artists, opening new locations and building ever larger organizations.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026
  • As energy costs and demand continue to rise and the potential for significantly lower tax revenues looms, local governments need to understand that clean energy is not banned in Florida but is encouraged by state statutes.
    — Alan Byrd, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
Definition of encouraged
Verb
  • Speaker Yuri Bohlen congratulated Edmondson for replacing a council member who resigned amid recall efforts.
    — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • Trump held calls with Zelenskyy and Putin over the weekend as both leaders congratulated the president on the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence.
    — Elise Spenner, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of congratulated

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Cite this Entry

“Piqued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piqued. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on piqued

Nglish: Translation of piqued for Spanish Speakers

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