piquant

[ pee-kuhnt, -kahnt, pee-kahnt ]

adjective

1. agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart:

   a piquant aspic.

   Synonyms: spicy

   Antonyms: insipid

2. agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive:

   a piquant glance.

3. of an interestingly provocative or lively character:

   a piquant wit.

   Synonyms: clever, sharp

4. Archaic. sharp or stinging, especially to the feelings.

piquant

/ ˈpiːkənt; -kɑːnt /

adjective

1. having an agreeably pungent or tart taste
2. lively or stimulating to the mind

Derived Forms

• ˈpiquancy, noun
• ˈpiquantly, adverb

Other Words From

• pi·quan·cy pi·quant·ness noun
• pi·quant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of piquant¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from French: literally, “pricking” ( pique ¹, -ant ); replacing pickante, from Italian piccante

Word History and Origins

Origin of piquant¹

C16: from French (literally: prickling), from piquer to prick, goad; see pique ¹

Example Sentences

It all plays like a modern riff on Roald Dahl, with that writer’s wit and penchant for the piquant cruelty of kids and adults alike, filtered through Elliot’s more wistful if equally whimsical sensibility.

From Los Angeles Times

You open the door and get hit with that familiar, piquant draft of deli indulgence, and customers happily volunteer to tell you about their first visits, decades ago, with parents or grandparents.

From Los Angeles Times

Add some spice to that sweating glass of ice tea and drink deeply of these piquant novels.

From Los Angeles Times

A dozen acrylic and graphite drawings of birds by Sutapa Biswas, accompanied by her video “Magnesium Bird,” make for a piquant counterweight.

From New York Times

“Pisachi” alternates between hushed, singing harmonics and piquant rhythms painted in impassioned tremolos and spiky pizzicatos.

From New York Times

Related Words

• peppery
• poignant
• pungent
• racy
• savory
• spicy
• tangy
• zesty