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)
• grating
• griping
• plaguing
• spiting
• peeving
• getting to
• chafing
• galling
• wearing on
• hacking (off)
• narking
• putting out
• insulting
• rasping
• frosting
• harassing
• enraging
• nagging
• upsetting
• rubbing the wrong way
• 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
• unsettling
• baiting
• 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

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

Iconix Brands Group pioneered the approach in the prior decade, piquing the interest of Salter, who iterated on the concept. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025

Possibly proving the old adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity, with the critical response piquing people’s curiosity, All’s Fair launched at #1 on Hulu’s Top 15 and remained in the top spot for the first three days on platform. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025

Interestingly enough, the tumulus represents a meeting of Roman and Celtic traditions, though, by the looks of it, this funerary monument, possibly attached to a stately though unknown elite, was a symbolic gesture, piquing intrigue and revealing a slice of Roman life rarely seen. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2025

Romelu Lukaku are piquing interest. — Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025