Piquant

Part of Speech

noun

Difficulty Level

Translations

🇩🇪 spirituell oder ironisch , 🇪🇸 espiritual o irónico , 🇮🇹 spiritoso o ironico , 🇵🇹 espiritual ou irônico , 🇨🇳 刺激的，辣的 , 🇯🇵 辛い、えぐい , 🇰🇷 영적인 또는 풍자적인 , 🇸🇦 روحاني أو ساخر , 🇮🇳 आध्यात्मिक या व्यंग्यात्मक

Definition

Usage Examples

Etymology

The noun **piquant** comes from Old French *piquant* “a prickling or stinging remark”, itself derived from the verb *piquer* “to sting, to pierce”. *Piquer* is a back‑derived form of the Latin *pīcere* “to sting”, which in turn traces back to an Indo‑European root meaning “to pierce or sting”. Over time the sense shifted from a literal physical sting to a figurative “sharp, sarcastic” remark, giving the modern meaning “ironic or sardonic wit”.

Synonyms

humour esprit vivacité satire sarcasme ironie taquinerie

Antonyms

sincérité profanité laïcité honnêteté réalisme