piquant
/ˈpiː.kənt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Piquant food has a pleasantly strong, spicy, or sharp taste. It can also describe something lively, a little daring, or slightly provocative.
- This sauce has a piquant flavour.
- Her remarks were witty and piquant.
- The cheese gives the dish a piquant taste.
Adinary Nuance
Piquant is stronger and more specific than "spicy" or "tasty". For food, it suggests a sharp, pleasantly stimulating flavour, not just heat. For writing or comments, it often means lively with a slightly naughty or provocative edge. Use it when you want a more elegant, literary word than "spicy" or "interesting".
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- cay nồng
- Spanish
- picante
- Chinese
- 辛辣的
- Japanese
- ピリッとした
- Korean
- 톡 쏘는
Etymology
From French piquant, from piquer meaning “to prick.” It entered English in the 17th century, first for sharp taste and later for lively style.
Common phrases
piquant saucepiquant flavoura piquant remarkpiquant details
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is piquant formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal or literary. People use it more in writing than in everyday speech.
- Does piquant only describe food?
- No. It can also describe remarks, stories, or style that are lively and slightly provocative.
- Is piquant the same as spicy?
- Not exactly. Spicy usually means hot from spices, while piquant suggests a sharper, more refined taste.
- Can I use piquant in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It can sound natural in descriptive writing, especially for food, style, or tone.