piquing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of piquingnext
as in provocative
serving or likely to arouse a strong reaction piquing remarks that were said mainly to get a rise out of the other guests at the party

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piquing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pique
1
as in bothering
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts her seat companion piqued her by repeatedly poking her in the ribs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in provoking
to rouse to strong feeling or action their sarcastic comments piqued him to respond in kind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in priding
to think highly of (oneself) she piques herself on her considerable musical abilities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piquing
  1. provocative
  2. bothering
  3. provoking
  4. charged
  5. encouraging
  6. stimulating
  7. exciting
  8. irritating
Adjective
  • The Believers Where to Watch: Netflix A provocative Thai series about three young entrepreneurs who attempt to spin a struggling Buddhist temple into a money-making business.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Nov. 2024
  • In the journalist’s provocative new work, Eve Babitz’s diary-like letters provide a window into her fellow literary titan, Joan Didion. 4.
    The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of provocative
Verb
  • Is the trend of sales taking a route that is bothering you?
    Hitendra Patil, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
  • In many cases, states have stopped bothering to make legal justifications at all, the Human Rights Committee report warned.
    Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024
Definition of bothering
Verb
  • Benefits Premium access to exclusive events, thought-provoking conversations with global leaders and more, all available on-demand.
    Forbes Membership, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
  • Presently, the hotel is featuring Life Between Heartbeats, a thought-provoking photography exhibition by contemporary artist Miguel Milló that runs until November 31, 2024.
    Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Definition of provoking
Adjective
  • The ceremony came at a charged moment, coinciding with Columbia University canceling its graduation ceremony (and largely closing off its campus).
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 6 May 2024
  • Of course, genocide is a charged and redolent term, recalling the systematic precision of the Holocaust and the society-wide butchery of the Rwandan genocide.
    Kristina Hook, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2022
Definition of charged
Verb
  • Developers and hotel operators can join hands to set up local farming collectives, thereby encouraging entrepreneurship, enabling employment opportunities and reducing waste generation along the supply chain.
    Shrikant Dash, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
  • By addressing individual risk factors, encouraging additional imaging and promoting early detection, these new rules are a vital advancement in the fight against breast cancer.
    Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of encouraging
Verb
  • The brand’s Gua Sha tool allows its products to penetrate the scalp more effectively, while stimulating blood flow for hair growth.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
  • By stimulating specific points along the body’s meridians, acupuncture is believed to help regulate the flow of Qi (life energy).
    Irina Logman, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of stimulating
Adjective
  • The Fire sign is symbolized by the archer and governed by Jupiter — the planet of luck and expansion — which adds to the curious and exciting energy in the air.
    Athena Sobhan, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Some of the most exciting technological developments coming in 2025 are around longevity.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 23 Nov. 2024
Definition of exciting
Verb
  • The ingredient releases gradually overnight to restore elasticity, even out the skin tone, and minimize the appearance of wrinkles without irritating the skin.
    Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Experts recommend looking for ingredients that are gentle yet effective—and avoiding harsh chemicals (like sulfates and parabens), heavy fragrances (like synthetic fragrances), or overly abrasive particles, since these things can all be irritating to the scalp.
    Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 3 Oct. 2024
Definition of irritating
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near piquing

piques

piquing

piracy

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Cite this Entry

“Piquing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piquing. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on piquing

Nglish: Translation of piquing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of piquing for Arabic Speakers

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