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

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

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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
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 Where to Stay If Earl Young’s architecture piques your interest, book a room at Hotel Earl. — Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 30 Dec. 2025
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
  • Hotel-booking platform HotelTonight surveyed 447 of its American adult users in June about what annoys them the most during travel.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 21 July 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
  • Now, new research reveals this kind of high-intensity training provokes a remarkably robust response throughout the bloodstream.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The film starts in nature, and the whole experience provokes ideas and inspires something closer to poetry than nostalgia.
    — Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of provokes
Verb
  • 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
  • In addition to his passion for family and work, Met also prides himself on his style and clothing.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of prides
Noun
  • The move follows efforts by Pinterest and LinkedIn to respond to users’ frustrations with AI slop in their feeds.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • However, surface-level remedies rarely resolve systemic frustrations.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 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
  • This math subtraction worksheet encourages kids to cross out shapes to solve single-digit problems.
    — Nicole Harris, Parents, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Stoddard encourages clients to try new coping tools during low-stakes moments, when their emotions are relatively mellow.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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