Synonyms of piquing

piquing 1 of 2

adjective

as in provocative

serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction

piquing remarks that were said mainly to get a rise out of the other guests at the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provocative
• charged
• provoking
• motivating
• exciting
• stimulating
• motivational
• inciting
• motivative
• instigating
• triggering
• edgy
• inspiring
• inducing
• instigative
• explosive
• inflammatory
• activating
• incendiary
• teasing
• inspirational
• upsetting
• energizing
• annoying
• quickening
• fiery
• maddening
• taunting
• vexing
• aggravating
• irritating
• vitalizing
• galvanizing
• irksome
• exasperating
• pesky
• bothersome
• angering
• enraging
• jeering
• vexatious
• galling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noninflammatory
• subduing

piquing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pique

1

as in bothering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bothering
• bugging
• annoying
• persecuting
• irritating
• getting
• riling
• irking
• aggravating
• angering
• itching
• eating
• exasperating
• nettling
• vexing
• infuriating
• teasing
• worrying
• provoking
• ruffling
• burning (up)
• griping
• grating
• plaguing
• spiting
• peeving
• getting to
• chafing
• galling
• wearing on
• hacking (off)
• narking
• putting out
• rasping
• insulting
• frosting
• harassing
• enraging
• nagging
• rubbing the wrong way
• upsetting
• getting on one's nerves
• inflaming
• sticking in one's craw
• rousing
• getting one's goat
• offending
• outraging
• badgering
• pestering
• antagonizing
• setting one's teeth on edge
• hassling
• heckling
• baiting
• unsettling
• agitating
• rankling
• roiling
• harrying
• perturbing
• incensing
• disquieting
• maddening
• distressing
• affronting
• exercising
• discomforting
• unhinging
• undoing
• deviling
• bullyragging
• fretting
• hagriding
• discomposing
• freaking (out)
• miffing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appeasing
• placating
• obliging
• gratifying
• pleasing
• satisfying
• pacifying
• conciliating
• delighting
• assuring
• mollifying
• reassuring
• propitiating
• cheering
• comforting
• quieting
• soothing
• consoling
• contenting
• gladdening
• solacing

2

as in provoking

to rouse to strong feeling or action

their sarcastic comments piqued him to respond in kind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoking
• encouraging
• stimulating
• arousing
• sparking
• stirring
• inspiring
• inciting
• motivating
• exciting
• moving
• inducing
• instigating
• triggering
• driving
• firing (up)
• igniting
• revving (up)
• impassioning
• activating
• inflaming
• motiving
• galvanizing
• angering
• fanning
• kindling
• bothering
• energizing
• fomenting
• building a fire under
• enraging
• animating
• quickening
• teasing
• vitalizing
• abetting
• raising
• taunting
• upsetting
• setting off
• fermenting
• keying (up)
• getting
• maddening
• whipping (up)
• irritating
• pumping up
• jeering
• aggravating
• vexing
• annoying
• exasperating
• galling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soothing
• calming
• subduing
• appeasing
• placating
• tranquilizing
• pacifying
• mollifying

3

as in priding

to think highly of (oneself)

she piques herself on her considerable musical abilities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• priding
• congratulating
• flattering
• bragging
• pluming
• vaunting
• boasting
• swaggering
• vaporing
• gasconading
• felicitating
• crowing
• swanking
• swashing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of piquing

Verb

Here are five upcoming books piquing our interest this season. — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026

At the time in the 1960s, Clairol had been keeping quiet about the development, piquing the interest of residents in the area. — Katherine Chircus, AZCentral.com, 15 Aug. 2026

There are an impressive number of interactions, and the game revels in piquing your curiosity. — ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

Last but certainly not least, In the City is piquing interest as well. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 July 2026

In the meantime, Mars in Gemini makes an alignment with Jupiter in Leo, increasing our self-confidence and piquing our curiosities. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

In the meantime, a few more reports and photos of the unusual bird came in from San Clemente and Dana Point the next day, piquing interest even more. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 28 May 2026

Bardet credits this research for piquing his interest in this subject. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026

What that’s code for — and what’s piquing Andrew’s caretaker tendencies along with his pheromones — is a certain kind of big-eyed helplessness. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026