Piquant
adjective /ˈpiːk(ə)nt/ — Pleasantly sharp, spicy, or stimulating in flavour.
Definition
Having a pleasantly sharp, spicy, or pungent flavor that stimulates the palate; in general use, something agreeably stimulating or interesting — a piquant remark, a piquant personality.
Beyond the definition
Piquant is the agreeable sharpness — not aggressive, but stimulating. The mustard that wakes up a sandwich, the intelligence that wakes up a conversation. Piquant things do not settle for comfort; they sharpen the attention. The word knows that pleasurable stimulation has a slight edge to it.
Origin & history
From French piquant (pricking, sharp), present participle of piquer (to prick, sting). The culinary metaphor of something that pricks the palate into attention.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The piquant mustard sauce cut through the richness of the duck.
She had a piquant personality — always saying the thing that made you think.
The documentary ended on a piquant note — leaving you with more questions than you arrived with.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Piquant” when the meaning fits your context: Having a pleasantly sharp, spicy, or pungent flavor that stimulates the palate; in general use, something agreeably stimulating or interesting — a piquant remark, a piquant personality.
Synonyms
spicy, sharp, tangy, stimulating, zesty
Antonyms
bland, insipid, mild, dull
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Delivery of Clever Witty Joke
A close-up of an adult's face features a small, subtle smile while their eyes show an alert and playful spark of intelligence.
A piquant personality is one that is agreeably stimulating. The image illustrates this by capturing the exact moment of a witty remark, where the subtle expression and bright eyes demonstrate a sharpness of mind that surprises and engages the listener, mirroring the tangy, stimulating effect of piquant flavour.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Piquant" mean?
Piquant is adjective meaning: Pleasantly sharp, spicy, or stimulating in flavour.. Having a pleasantly sharp, spicy, or pungent flavor that stimulates the palate; in general use, something agreeably stimulating or interesting — a piquant remark, a piquant personality.
Where does the word "Piquant" come from?
From French piquant (pricking, sharp), present participle of piquer (to prick, sting). The culinary metaphor of something that pricks the palate into attention.