as in spice
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses
a talk show host known for the quickness and piquancy of his wit I appreciated the piquancy of the peppers in the sauce
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Recent Examples of piquancy
And a jicama salad is my personal favorite, balancing heat in piquancy and chill in temperature.
—
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The most notable part of this gag was not the joke itself, a standard late-night quip delivered with appropriate piquancy.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The most notable part of this gag was not the joke itself, a standard late-night quip delivered with appropriate piquancy.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquancy
Noun
-
Blue Bay Resort A visit to Belmont Estate provides insights into traditional cacao farming and chocolate production, from bean to bar, while Tri-Island Chocolate connects visitors with local farmers to learn about cocoa, honey and spice cultivation with its Rastafarian Roots-to-Bar experience.—
Taryn White,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Shelves lined with baking ingredients, bolts of fabric, tinware, nails, and jars of penny candy created a patchwork of textures and smells ranging from molasses and leather to spices and tobacco smoke.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
To make the aji verde, add the cilantro, mint, parsley, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, serrano, honey, sour cream, salt and pepper to a blender.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
-
Top with the lemon juice, lemon zest, and parsley.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piquancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquancy. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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