piques 1 of 2

noun

plural of pique
as in angers
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity in a fit of pique she posted embarrassing photos of her ex-boyfriend on the Internet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piques

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pique
1
as in annoys
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in provokes
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 prides
to think highly of (oneself) she piques herself on her considerable musical abilities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of piques
Verb
If none of this piques your interest, spend time in the 8,000-square-foot spa, where a multitude of treatments along with a swirling hydrotherapy circuit and sauna are at your fingertips. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 Plus, there’s something about being part of the process of buying (or growing) the ingredients and preparing a recipe that piques the curiosity of even the pickiest eater and tempts them to take a bite. — Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 25 July 2026 Much piques our curiosity about Springfield’s failure to settle on a pathway to constructing a new domed stadium for the Chicago Bears. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026 Anything Oprah repeatedly praises immediately piques my interest, but even more so when her favorites are podiatrist favorites. — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 30 May 2026 Bettors are showing significant interest in the quirky sport, which piques viewers’ curiosity every four years at the Winter Olympics. — ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026 But her movie piques our interest rather than grabbing us by the throat the way a good crime flick should. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026 Someone piques your interest unexpectedly, Leo. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026 Having said that, the series piques the interest, especially because of the news that James Spader's Ultron will be a major player here. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piques
  1. huffs
  2. annoys
  3. provokes
  4. prides
  5. frustrations
  6. bothers
  7. encourages
  8. irritates
Noun
  • David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.
    — Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
  • As much as Payton bristles about media storylines and huffs about tempo questions, the Broncos went 25 minutes without a first down against Las Vegas.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Nov. 2025
Definition of huffs
Verb
  • That very same thing is what annoys Liz about Charles 500 years later.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But Turner is a symbol for everything that annoys people about the Phillies.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of annoys
Verb
  • The rooms were part of Kusama’s ongoing exploration of self-obliteration and her career-long ambition to create work that provokes a keen awareness of both one’s individual insignificance and place in the wider cosmic system.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Now, new research reveals this kind of high-intensity training provokes a remarkably robust response throughout the bloodstream.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of provokes
Verb
  • The president prides himself on his accessibility to the media and took a few questions.
    — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In a small eastern Connecticut town that prides itself on being part of the Quiet Corner, even a relatively modest-size project like Meehan’s is drawing more controversy than usual.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of prides
Noun
  • But our frustrations and inconvenience pale in comparison to the sadness of those who knew the deceased or to the trauma the drivers involved experienced.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • One year before his triumph in the 2026 US Open, Clark missed the cut at the same tournament and took his frustrations out on the Oakmont Country Club locker room, causing enough damage that the famous club outside Pittsburgh banned him for life.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrations
Verb
  • That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal.
    — Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about this scam is that criminals are going after people who may have the fewest options to protect themselves.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothers
Verb
  • The bark can also be stripped from the branch, called girdling, which encourages faster root growth.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Mid-month, however, encourages you to indulge your creativity, rather than forcing big decisions.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of encourages
Verb
  • With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.
    — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
Definition of irritates

Browse Nearby Words

piqued
piques
piquing
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Cite this Entry

“Piques.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piques. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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