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
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Recent Examples of piquant
Raw tuna is often presented in ways that emphasize its subtlety and richness; here, instead, all those piquant, pickly bits seem to give the fish’s oceanic sweetness permission to flex and flow, revealing its character the way a few drops of water open up a rare single malt.
—
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Even a humble staple like queso is elevated with smokey undertones, a version so good that it can easily be eaten by the spoonful, alternating with the addictively piquant salsa verde that comes to the table with warm tortilla chips.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
The crustaceans produce a piquant aroma while the red vegetable adds a layer of acidity and hint of sourness to the soup.
—Christina Liao, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
The Right Word is not so much to be consulted as to be read and savored by those who remember the early days of NR and the piquant personality behind it.
—William Voegeli, National Review, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Even a humble staple like queso is elevated with smokey undertones, a version so good that it can easily be eaten by the spoonful, alternating with the addictively piquant salsa verde that comes to the table with warm tortilla chips.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
The crustaceans produce a piquant aroma while the red vegetable adds a layer of acidity and hint of sourness to the soup.
—Christina Liao, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
The Right Word is not so much to be consulted as to be read and savored by those who remember the early days of NR and the piquant personality behind it.
—William Voegeli, National Review, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for piquant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquant
Adjective
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The spicy salsa and tangy cucumber salad brought out the best of the tender birria.—
Jessica Boehm,
Axios,
9 Apr. 2025
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The finish is long and flavorful, with a lingering spicy aftertaste of cinnamon and clove notes.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Most industry observers will recognize the pungent whiff of AI that YouTube’s algorithm lifts under the nose, but for some, the movie commercials can be indiscernible from the real deal.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2025
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The result was a substance with a pungent smell — an odorizer that wiped out an offending odor by creating one that was arguably even worse (think: chlorine, but several times stronger).—
Jacob Bernstein,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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However, what many fans do agree on is the power of how a middle-aged women's friendship group's narrative concluded—with a poignant realization on friendship and aging.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
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This post contains details about the Yellowjackets, Season 3 episode ‘How the Story Ends’ As Yellowjackets fans mourn the Showtime series’ latest shocking death, the loss is especially poignant for the woman behind the team.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Polish Cannonball delivers comfort with egg noodles, kielbasa, crispy bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese, all drizzled with a zesty herb crema.—
Nasha Smith,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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The Bears might be wise to avoid any zesty side dishes in the first round.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Total Time: 50 mins Servings: 4 Jump to Nutrition Facts Mix up your weeknight menu with this delicious copycat chicken recipe.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
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Spring Café For healthier–yet still delicious—fare, head to Spring Café for lunch.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Imagine the rich sweetness of caramel and the texture of a firm fudge, combined with a tangy, savory edge that hints at its dairy roots.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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That means food like crispy Southern fried chicken, smothered pork chops, baked mac and cheese, buttery cornbread, savory collard greens, sweet potato pie and more, the Facebook post said.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Taste again and season with more salt (easy on the salt, as the bacon and cheese are both salty) and black pepper, as desired.—
Kelly Brant,
Arkansas Online,
8 Apr. 2025
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Whoever came up with Snacky Clusters nailed the sweet and salty trend by mixing several of Trader Joe’s top snacks.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piquant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquant. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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