piquant
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piquant
- /ˈpiːkənt/
- /ˈpiːˌkɑːnt/
- /piːˈkɑːnt/
- /ˈpiːkwənt/
Rhymes with -iːkənt, -ɑːnt
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Middle French piquant (“pricking, stimulating, irritating”), present participle of piquer, possibly from Old French pikier (“to prick, sting, nettle”). Doublet of picong. Related to pike.
adjective more piquant · most piquant · piquante
- Causing hurt feelings; scathing, severe.
- Stimulating to the senses; engaging; charming. Their husbands […] leave home to seek for more agreeable, may I be allowed to use a significant French word, piquant society […]
- Favorably stimulating to the palate; pleasantly spicy; tangy. Pork Chops with Apple and Port These chops are baked in a piquant sauce containing fruit, honey, cinnamon, lemon and port, all of which reduces to a spicy syrup.
- Producing a burning sensation due to the presence of chilies or similar spices; spicy, hot.
Translations
Talk about this word "piquant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/piquant. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. piquant. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/piquant "piquant." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/piquant.Cite this
@misc{piquant_2026,
title = {piquant},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/piquant},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
