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V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary


piquant

adjective

Definition: 1. interesting and provocative, especially in a striking way; 2. having a pleasantly pungent, spicy flavor

Synonyms: flavorful, appealing, appetizing, biting, spicy, bitter, sharp, dry, provocative

Antonyms: bland, boring, dull

Tips: Piquant is derived from the Old French piquer, which means "to prick, sting." Think of a food that pricks your tongue in a pleasant way when you eat it, because it's so full of flavor. Piquant describes something that stimulates (pricks, stings) the sense of taste. It can also describe anything that is stimulating or interesting to your other senses.

Usage Examples:

She used a homemade, piquant barbecue sauce to marinade the chicken. (spicy, flavorful)

The teacher had a piquant sense of humor that her students seemed to appreciate. (biting, dry, sharp)

The song went straight to the top of the charts, mainly because of its piquant lyrics. (provocative)

That piquant salsa was the spiciest thing I've had in a long time. (spicy, sharp)


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