pique
1- 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).
- to arouse pique in someone: an action that piqued when it was meant to soothe.
- 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
1Synonyms for pique
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for pique
Related Words for piqued
annoy, ignite, irk, displease, excite, irritate, gall, rile, arouse, incense, whet, offend, kindle, stimulate, galvanize, move, sting, mortify, quicken, motivateExamples 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-ListMarlow Stern
August 3, 2014
Her curiosity was piqued, and she began a nearly decade-long critical review of the research on dietary fat.
Historical Examples of piqued
The Little Doctor, puzzled as well as piqued, went straight to the point.
Chip, of the Flying UB. 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 PortygeeJoseph Crosby Lincoln
It was rather their action as a unit which piqued his interest.
The Market-PlaceHarold Frederic
Are you piqued with me for anything that occurred this morning?
BarringtonCharles James Lever
pique
1- a feeling of resentment or irritation, as from having one's pride wounded
- 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
pique
2- 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
- to score a pique (against)
Word Origin for pique
piqué
- a close-textured fabric of cotton, silk, or spun rayon woven with lengthwise ribs
Word Origin for piqué
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.