piquant
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for piquant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Sharp and hurtful; cutting or harsh.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
Etymology
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.
Full origin of piquant →