PIQUANT Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'piquant' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of piquant are poignant , pungent , and racy . While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency. // a piquant sauce

Q: In what contexts can 'poignant' take the place of 'piquant'?

Although the words poignant and piquant have much in common, poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions. // felt a poignant sense of loss

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pungent' instead of 'piquant'?

The synonyms pungent and piquant are sometimes interchangeable, but pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors. // a cheese with a pungent odor

Q: When might 'racy' be a better fit than 'piquant'?

The words racy and piquant can be used in similar contexts, but racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired. // spontaneous, racy prose

piquant

adjective

ˈpē-kənt

Definition of piquant next

as in spicy

sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a piquant tidbit of information about the new neighbors the piquant cuisine of India boasts some highly spiced dishes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the adjective piquant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of piquant are poignant, pungent, and racy. While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

In what contexts can poignant take the place of piquant?

Although the words poignant and piquant have much in common, poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

When is it sensible to use pungent instead of piquant?

The synonyms pungent and piquant are sometimes interchangeable, but pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

When might racy be a better fit than piquant?

The words racy and piquant can be used in similar contexts, but racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of piquant The dish crackles under the knife, adding a textural interplay to the buttery crab that is balanced with the zip of piquant sauces. —

The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 21 Oct. 2024 Perky, honeyed piquant aromas of tropicals—grapefruit but also flint. —

Tom Mullen, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 Remember that when spraying down your pasty, white offspring, as most of us could do without the piquant afterglow from inhaling that unctuous, SPF-100 mist. —

Steve Cambria, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2024 Stone gives a typically ostentatious performance — all tics, cartoonish gestures, searchlight eyes — without piquant moments of silence or reflection. —

Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for piquant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant

Adjective

Bright and fruity with plenty of herbs and juniper essence and an almost spicy zip on the palate.

Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Then there are the darker, spicier vanillas, with hints of tobacco or amber, offering a more sultry, sophisticated vibe.

Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024