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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of piquant
Red cabbage, carrots and Tuscan kale form the base, bound together with a piquant balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette.
—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
The comments section features a piquant blend of solemnity, mortification, tastelessness, and transphobia, which accords with Moreschi’s reception in his lifetime.
—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Sustained support from the strings gives way to watery ripples and busy chatters, with piquant harmonic implications.
—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
It is often topped with crispy and raw onions, slathered with piquant sauces (including rémoulade and sweet brown mustard), and served on a toasted bun.
—
Lauren Breedlove,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
The comments section features a piquant blend of solemnity, mortification, tastelessness, and transphobia, which accords with Moreschi’s reception in his lifetime.
—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Sustained support from the strings gives way to watery ripples and busy chatters, with piquant harmonic implications.
—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
It is often topped with crispy and raw onions, slathered with piquant sauces (including rémoulade and sweet brown mustard), and served on a toasted bun.
—
Lauren Breedlove,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
-
Just toss the wedges with some oil, and season with the spicy salt.
-
Yassine Bounou had to deal with a couple of spicy crosses and made one really good save to smother a Tani Oluwaseyi chance.
Adjective
-
The club is located in Lancaster County, surrounded by chicken and dairy farms that give off a pungent odor of fermenting feed and manure.
-
Italian sauvignon blanc offers an alterative that is typically subtler, more textured and less dependent on those pungent aromatics.
Adjective
-
Another child was rescued from the rubble in Venezuela’s La Guaira region, marking a poignant moment at the close of a long and emotionally charged day of crisis response on Saturday.
-
But Van Sant’s imaginative and deeply poignant retelling of Shakespeare’s Henry IV is a pleasure in its own right, its sweetness and gentle touches of surrealism coming together to form a heartbreaking ode to young love.
Adjective
-
The black-eyed peas blended with garlic, tahini, and lemon makes for a smoky, zesty, and bright dish that elevates a standard hummus.
-
Available in black, white, olive green, and a zesty chartreuse hue with subtle floral stitching, the tote is an ideal companion for work commutes, travel days, beach outings, and even as a diaper bag alternative.
Adjective
-
Whip up a big batch of this delicious chicken salad to have ready to go all week.
-
That includes delicious deals across lots of furniture and home decor, including bedroom pieces, outdoor gems, and ceramics to uplift any area of your home.
Adjective
-
From sweet, dense cakes and buttery cookies to snappy, fresh salads and savory side dishes, these colorful root veggies are at home on any menu.
-
And, now, the secret is out on where to get a taste of the latest flavor craze to hit in the Charlotte area — a rich, savory beef broth.
Adjective
-
The result is a chain of polite, yet simultaneously radical buildings with an exciting contour resembling a mountainous landscape – adding ‘bergen’ in De Bergen!
-
The modern building is an exciting addition to the Fort Worth Cultural District and people are situated in backs around the lobby.
Adjective
-
The 1500 feet-long sculpture, made of 6000 tons of black basalt rock and earth, juts out of the basin and is encrusted with white salt, having been altered over the years by the salty pink water that used to flow there.
-
The terrain is rocky, with vineyards clinging to steep limestone slopes, simultaneously warmed by the sun and cooled by salty Adriatic breezes.
Cite this Entry
“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
