pique

[peek]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pique ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), piqued, piqu·ing.

to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, especially by some wound to pride: She was greatly piqued when they refused her invitation.

to wound (the pride, vanity, etc.).

to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.): Her curiosity was piqued by the gossip.

to arouse an emotion or provoke to action: to pique someone to answer a challenge.

Archaic. to pride (oneself) (usually followed by on or upon).

verb (used without object), piqued, piqu·ing.

to arouse pique in someone: an action that piqued when it was meant to soothe.

noun

a feeling of irritation or resentment, as from a wound to pride or self-esteem: to be in a pique.

Obsolete. a state of irritated feeling between persons.

Origin of pique

1525–35; < Middle French pique (noun), piquer (v.) < Vulgar Latin *piccare to pick¹; see pickax, pike², piqué

Related formsun·piqued, adjective

Can be confusedpeak peek pique piqué

Synonyms for pique

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pique ON THESAURUS.COM

1. offend, sting, nettle, vex, irritate, chafe. 2. affront. 3. stimulate, stir, prick, incite, goad.

Antonyms for pique

1. please. 2. compliment.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for piqued

annoy, ignite, irk, displease, excite, irritate, gall, rile, arouse, incense, whet, offend, kindle, stimulate, galvanize, move, sting, mortify, quicken, motivate

Examples from the Web for piqued

Contemporary Examples of piqued

So your interest is piqued, but then how did you convince Marvel to hand you the keys?
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Filmmaker James Gunn on His Glorious Space Opera and Rise to the A-List
Marlow Stern
August 3, 2014
Her curiosity was piqued, and she began a nearly decade-long critical review of the research on dietary fat.
Everything You Know About Fat Is Wrong
Daniela Drake
May 7, 2014

Historical Examples of piqued

The Little Doctor, puzzled as well as piqued, went straight to the point.
Chip, of the Flying U
B. M. Bower
The words, of her age, piqued me; and I spared no pains to make him forget them.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
And Speranza was at first puzzled, then piqued, then himself madly fascinated.
The Portygee
Joseph Crosby Lincoln
It was rather their action as a unit which piqued his interest.
The Market-Place
Harold Frederic
Are you piqued with me for anything that occurred this morning?
Barrington
Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for piqued

pique

noun

a feeling of resentment or irritation, as from having one's pride wounded

verb piques, piquing or piqued (tr)

to cause to feel resentment or irritation

to excite or arouse

(foll by on or upon) to pride or congratulate (oneself)

Word Origin for pique

C16: from French, from piquer to prick, sting; see pick 1

pique

noun

a score of 30 points made by a player from a combination of cards held before play begins and from play while his opponent's score is nil

verb

to score a pique (against)

Word Origin for pique

C17: from French pic, of uncertain origin

piqué

noun

a close-textured fabric of cotton, silk, or spun rayon woven with lengthwise ribs

Word Origin for piqué

C19: from French piqué pricked, from piquer to prick

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for piqued

pique

1530s, "fit of ill feeling," from Middle French pique "a prick, sting, irritation," noun of action from piquer (see pike (n.2)).

pique

"to excite to anger," 1670s, from French piquer "to prick, sting" (see pike (n.2)). Softened meaning "to stimulate, excite" is from 1690s. Related: Piqued; piquing.