pique C2+ Topic:Emotions & Feelings US /pik/ UK /piːk/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a feeling of irritation or resentment; to stimulate interest or arouse The mysterious headline was designed to pique the reader's curiosity. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a feeling of irritation or... irritationresentmentannoyanceumbrageoffensehuffarousestimulate ↔ Opposites pleasuregratificationappease Word family Derived forms piqued Related forms piquantpiquancy Etymology AI details From French pique ('a prick, sting, resentment'), from piquer ('to prick, sting'), of imitative or uncertain origin. piquer Middle French View etymology graph -> Topics Emotions & Feelings External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # pique **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /pik/ **IPA (UK):** /piːk/ ## Meanings 1. a feeling of irritation or resentment; to stimulate interest or arouse ## Examples - The mysterious headline was designed to pique the reader's curiosity. ## Synonyms - irritation - resentment - annoyance - umbrage - offense - huff - arouse - stimulate ## Antonyms - pleasure - gratification - appease ## Derived Forms - piqued ## Related Forms - piquant - piquancy ## Roots and Affixes - Root: piquer ## Etymology From French pique ('a prick, sting, resentment'), from piquer ('to prick, sting'), of imitative or uncertain origin. ## AI Etymology Pique comes from French pique ('a prick, sting, resentment'), from piquer ('to prick, sting'), of imitative or uncertain origin. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun and verb, it denotes "a feeling of irritation or resentment; to stimulate interest or arouse", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Middle French piquer. Derivative forms include piqued; related words include piquant, piquancy. ## Topics - Emotions & Feelings markdown