piquant
Americanadjective
-
agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart.
a piquant aspic.
- Synonyms:
- spicy
- Antonyms:
- insipid
-
agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive.
a piquant glance.
-
of an interestingly provocative or lively character.
a piquant wit.
-
Archaic. sharp or stinging, especially to the feelings.
adjective
-
having an agreeably pungent or tart taste
-
lively or stimulating to the mind
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of piquant
First recorded in 1515–25; from French: literally, “pricking” ( see pique 1, -ant); replacing pickante, from Italian piccante
Explanation
Feeling a little saucy? Perhaps a bit provocative — but in a good way? Then it's safe to say your personality is a little piquant. Coming to us from the French word piquer, which means "to prick," something that's piquant certainly piques your interest. Someone who's piquant engages you with charm and wit. A story that's filled with piquant details has plenty of juicy, provocative points. And grandma's homemade gravy? It's certainly zesty and piquant, even with all the lumps.
Vocabulary lists containing piquant
"Love's Vocabulary," Vocabulary from the essay
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"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 5
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Tasteful Terms: Flavorful Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Piquant has been charged by a grand jury with 10 counts spanning passport fraud, voting by an alien and false claims of citizenship to register to vote.
From Washington Times • Dec. 14, 2021
It’s still not a patch on Vegusto’s No-Moo Piquant, though, whom I definitely saw play Glastonbury once.
From The Guardian • Mar. 1, 2018
Jen-Luc Piquant will be back on the job with her usual roundups come February 22.
From Scientific American • Feb. 1, 2014
My avatar alter ego, Jen-Luc Piquant, might be more like me than I realize.
From Slate • Jan. 30, 2014
Add 2 teaspoonfuls curry powder or paste and a little chutney to 1/2 pint Brown Sauce or Piquant Sauce.
From Reform Cookery Book (4th edition) Up-To-Date Health Cookery for the Twentieth Century. by Mill, Mrs. (Jean Oliver)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
