Piquant
Definition: provocative, stimulating
This is used in food descriptions a lot. Something that is “piquant” has a sharp taste to it.
A person or statement that is “piquant” is something aggressive or provocative – something that stands out.
It’s from the French word for “prickly.”
Why I Looked It Up
In Fair Game, the author writes:
[ He said,] “Fuck ‘em. Go back with your head high and make ‘em sweat.”
… His confidence in me and piquant advice were just what I needed to hear.
Postscript
Added on
In the daily Connections game from the NY Times, four words were grouped under the category “Piquancy.”
- Bite
- Kick
- Tang
- Zip