pique

[peek]

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

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. 2018

Related Words for piquing

annoyance, displeasure, annoy, ignite, irk, displease, excite, irritate, gall, rile, arouse, incense, whet, offend, kindle, stimulate, galvanize, provocation, tiff, ruckus

Examples from the Web for piquing

Historical Examples of piquing

There was no assault of the alien nature upon his own, irresistible because so piquing.
The Prisoner
Alice Brown
The young lady, piquing herself on her constancy, refused her new admirer.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete
Jean Jacques Rousseau
They seem to have made caricatures of him, piquing themselves, no doubt, upon the durability of the marble in which they worked.
Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol I of 2)
John Addington Symonds
Judkins is rather a dandy than otherwise, piquing himself somewhat on his apparel.
George Walker at Suez
Anthony Trollope
It is the only part on which I have bestowed much pains, for the difficulty was piquing, not piquant.
George Eliot's Life, Vol. I (of 3)
George Eliot

British Dictionary definitions for piquing

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 piquing

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.