piquant

[ pee-kuhnt, -kahnt, pee-kahnt ]
/ ˈpi kənt, -kɑnt, piˈkɑnt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR piquant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart: a piquant aspic.
agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive: a piquant glance.
of an interestingly provocative or lively character: a piquant wit.
Archaic. sharp or stinging, especially to the feelings.

Origin of piquant

1515–25; < French: literally, pricking (see pique1, -ant); replacing pickante < Italian piccante

SYNONYMS FOR piquant

1 spicy.
2 intriguing.
3 sharp, clever.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR piquant ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM piquant

pi·quan·cy, pi·quant·ness, noun pi·quant·ly, adverb

Words nearby piquant

pippin, pipsissewa, pipsqueak, pipy, piqua, piquant, pique, piquet, piquillo, piqué, pir

Words related to piquancy

relish, zest, flavoring, tang, sharpness, liveliness, salt, raciness, spice

Example sentences from the Web for piquancy

British Dictionary definitions for piquancy

piquant
/ (ˈpiːkənt, -kɑːnt) /

adjective

having an agreeably pungent or tart taste
lively or stimulating to the mind

Derived forms of piquant

piquancy or rare piquantness, noun piquantly, adverb

Word Origin for piquant

C16: from French (literally: prickling), from piquer to prick, goad; see pique 1