as in spice
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses
a talk show host known for the quickness and piquancy of his wit I appreciated the piquancy of the peppers in the sauce
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Recent Examples of piquancy
And a jicama salad is my personal favorite, balancing heat in piquancy and chill in temperature.
—
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The most notable part of this gag was not the joke itself, a standard late-night quip delivered with appropriate piquancy.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The most notable part of this gag was not the joke itself, a standard late-night quip delivered with appropriate piquancy.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for piquancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquancy
Noun
-
The reward is a rural landscape dotted with rice paddies and spice plantations, ancient Hindu temples and Roman Catholic churches, under-the-radar heritage hotels, and avant-garde restaurants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The palate is a whirlwind of flavors, ranging from soft baking spice to floral incense to assertive oaky tannins to sweet vanilla.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Your laugh, your kindness, your wit, your strength, your loyalty, your passion and your zest for life.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This is a bright but intense whisky, with notes of tropical fruit like mango and pineapple, vanilla, butterscotch, almonds, and a hint of lemon zest on the palate.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piquancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquancy. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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