piquant

piquant
[pee-kuhnt, -kahnt, pee-kahnt]
/ ;pi k;nt, -k;nt, pi;k;nt /

adjective
agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart.

a piquant aspic.

Synonyms:
spicy
Antonyms:
insipid
agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive.

a piquant glance.

of an interestingly provocative or lively character.

a piquant wit.

Synonyms:
clever, sharp
Archaic. sharp or stinging, especially to the feelings.



piquant
British 
/ ;pi;k;nt, -k;;nt /
adjective
having an agreeably pungent or tart taste

lively or stimulating to the mind

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms
piquancy noun
piquantly adverb
piquantness noun
Etymology

Origin of piquant
First recorded in 1515–25; from French: literally, “pricking” ( pique 1, -ant ); replacing pickante, from Italian piccante

Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It could be any protein, meat or tofu, to delight in dipping into an array of piquant sauces.

From Salon

But the flat iron steak is the umami bomb we all need, a grilled slab with a piquant bite from all the infused koji and fish sauce, a taste reminiscent of your favorite teriyaki.

From Seattle Times

This time, the winner is from Molly Baz’s “Cook This Book,” and it depends on a base of grains and quick-pickled onions in a piquant dressing.

From Washington Post

The name of the boat is Truth, which is only one of the piquant details in Joshua Zeman’s seafaring documentary, “The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52.”

From New York Times

The contrasts of texture is what always gets me: moist chicken, thinly sliced or pounded, shatteringly crisp, pan-fried or deep-fried coating, piquant marinara, and heaps and heaps of cheese.

From Salon

Related Words
peppery
poignant
pungent
racy
savory
spicy
tangy
zesty