pique
14 synonyms and 2 antonyms for pique, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To arouse someone's interest or curiosity, especially suddenly.
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
1. verb
To arouse someone's interest or curiosity, especially suddenly.
“The headline piqued my curiosity, so I read the whole article.”
Opposites
2. verb
To wound someone's pride or make them feel resentful and irritated.
“He was piqued at not being invited to the meeting.”
3. noun
A feeling of irritation or wounded pride, usually short-lived and caused by a slight.
“In a fit of pique she deleted the entire draft.”
How to use pique
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Standard in all registers. The noun almost always appears in the fixed phrase "a fit of pique".
Etymology
From French piquer, "to prick, sting", which also gives English picket; the noun sense of wounded pride came into English first.
Full origin of pique →Frequently asked questions
Is it "piqued my interest" or "peaked my interest"?
"Piqued my interest" is correct. Pique means to prick or stimulate, so something that piques your interest pokes it awake. "Peaked" would mean your interest reached its maximum and started to decline, which is the opposite of what people mean.
What is the difference between pique, peak and peek?
Peak is a summit or a high point; peek is a quick look; pique is to stimulate interest or to irritate, and as a noun a fit of resentment. All three are pronounced the same, which is why they are so often swapped.
Can pique mean both interest and annoyance?
Yes. Both come from the idea of being pricked. When curiosity is pricked you are intrigued; when your pride is pricked you are offended. Context makes the difference clear.