piquancy

American  

[pee-kuhn-see, -kahn-] / ˈpi kən si, -kɑn- /

Rarely piquantness

noun

1. the fact or quality of being pleasantly strong, sharp, or tart in taste or flavor.

   Piquillo peppers, with their smoky, sweet piquancy, have a unique and irresistible flavor.

2. the fact or quality of being interestingly provocative, stimulating, lively, attractive, etc..

   These pithy sayings of his have more piquancy than objective truth.

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Etymology

Origin of piquancy

piqu(ant) ( def. ) + -ancy ( def. )

Explanation

Something that tastes zesty or tangy has piquancy. The piquancy of your dad's spaghetti sauce is what makes it your favorite. Things with piquancy are exciting, either because of the way they taste or because they are fascinating. The mouth-watering piquancy of barbecued chicken is all about its flavor, and the piquancy of a thrilling ghost story is in the details. We can trace this noun back to piquant, "stimulating, pricking, or irritating" in Middle French.

Example Sentences

The piquancy of the book stems from Ms. Lemann’s evident sympathy for this point of view.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Finally, a dose of horseradish gives the sauce a welcome piquancy.

From Washington Times • Sep. 12, 2023

If you’re not from Alabama, mayonnaise may sound like a strange ingredient for a barbecue sauce, but its creamy piquancy goes great with smoked chicken, pulled pork and roast beef.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2023

The supporting cast compensates with piquancy in the side dishes, but the main course is a flavorless misfire.

From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2021

A scholar named Thomas Cole, however, published an ingenious speculative essay in 1991.2 Corax’s name—giving extra piquancy to the judge’s joke—means “crow” in Greek, and Cole starts out arguing from common sense.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith