pique
1 of 3verb
ˈpēk 
piqued; piquing
transitive verb
1
a
: to excite or arouse especially by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff
sly remarks to pique their curiosity
b
: pride
he piques himself on his skill as a cook
2
: to arouse anger or resentment in : irritate
what piques linguistic conservatives
T. H. Middleton
T. H. Middletonpique
2 of 3noun (1)
ˈpēk
: a transient feeling of wounded vanity : resentment
a fit of pique
piqué
3 of 3noun (2)
pi·qué pi-ˈkā
ˈpē-ˌkā
variants or pique
1
: a durable ribbed clothing fabric of cotton, rayon, or silk
2
: decoration of a tortoiseshell or ivory object with inlaid fragments of gold or silver
Synonyms
Verb
- aggravate
- annoy
- bother
- bug
- burn (up)
- chafe
- eat
- exasperate
- frost
- gall
- get
- grate
- gripe
- hack (off)
- irk
- irritate
- itch
- nark [British]
- nettle
- peeve
- persecute
- put out
- rasp
- rile
- ruffle
- spite
- vex
Noun (1)
- dudgeon
- huff
- miff
- offense
- offence
- peeve
- resentment
- umbrage
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The first chorus … stirred my heart, the second piqued my sense of camp and the rest of them had me checking my watch. David Gates, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2002 The posthumous revelation of Cheever's alcoholism, numerous infidelities and bisexuality may have piqued interest precisely because he presented himself so earnestly as the Man in the Brooks Brothers Suit. Mary Gordon, New York Times Book Review, 6 Oct. 1991 Some environmentalists worry that the natural behavior patterns of whales are being altered by tourist boats that pique the animals' curiosity. Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 21 Aug. 1989 In case your interest is being piqued just an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny … bit, the Davis Cup will confuse you totally by calling every competition between contending teams a "tie." Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 11 Apr. 1988 Brightly colored objects pique a baby's interest. her seat companion piqued her by repeatedly poking her in the ribs Noun (1) And yet the democracy flourishing in Taiwan has been greeted in other parts of the Chinese-speaking world with a certain pique, and even with hostility. Ian Buruma, New Republic, 3 Apr. 2000 … when a beast that weighs 1,200 pounds goes crazy with some kind of stupid pique or jealousy in a room not much bigger than the handicapped stall in the Denver airport men's room, bad things will happen … Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994 He hit balls toward the umpire's chair and out of the stadium: he spat water toward the umpire on changeovers; and in still greater fits of pique, he broke three rackets. Jamie Diaz, Sports Illustrated, 2 Mar. 1987 After a moment of pique, the senator responded calmly to his accusers. He slammed the door in a fit of pique. See More
David Gates, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2002 The posthumous revelation of Cheever's alcoholism, numerous infidelities and bisexuality may have piqued interest precisely because he presented himself so earnestly as the Man in the Brooks Brothers Suit. Mary Gordon, New York Times Book Review, 6 Oct. 1991 Some environmentalists worry that the natural behavior patterns of whales are being altered by tourist boats that pique the animals' curiosity. Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 21 Aug. 1989 In case your interest is being piqued just an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny … bit, the Davis Cup will confuse you totally by calling every competition between contending teams a "tie." Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 11 Apr. 1988 Brightly colored objects pique a baby's interest. her seat companion piqued her by repeatedly poking her in the ribs Noun (1) And yet the democracy flourishing in Taiwan has been greeted in other parts of the Chinese-speaking world with a certain pique, and even with hostility. Ian Buruma, New Republic, 3 Apr. 2000 … when a beast that weighs 1,200 pounds goes crazy with some kind of stupid pique or jealousy in a room not much bigger than the handicapped stall in the Denver airport men's room, bad things will happen … Hunter S. Thompson, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 1994 He hit balls toward the umpire's chair and out of the stadium: he spat water toward the umpire on changeovers; and in still greater fits of pique, he broke three rackets. Jamie Diaz, Sports Illustrated, 2 Mar. 1987 After a moment of pique, the senator responded calmly to his accusers. He slammed the door in a fit of pique. See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun (1)
French piquer, literally, to prick — more at pike
Noun (2)
French piqué, from past participle of piquer to prick, quilt
First Known Use
Verb
1669, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun (1)
1551, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
pique
verb
ˈpēk
piqued; piquing
1
: to stir up : excite
The package piqued my curiosity.
2
: to make annoyed or angry
pique 1 of 2
noun
as in anger
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- anger
- huff
- frustration
- indignation
- dudgeon
- irritation
- umbrage
- resentment
- exasperation
- miff
- outrage
- annoyance
- offence
- displeasure
- peeve
- ire
- discomfort
- upset
- fit
- indignity
- grief
- agitation
- offense
- insult
- distress
- affront
- vexation
- temper
- perturbation
- slight
- aggravation
- angriness
- bother
- pet
- dander
- tantrum
- tizzy
- disturbance
- barb
- irateness
- slap
- dig
- sulk(s)
- slur
- pouts
- botheration
- brickbat
- put-down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- satisfaction
- delight
- gratification
- pleasure
- appeasement
- pacification
- mollification
- happiness
- contentment
pique
2 of 2verb
1
as in to annoy
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
- annoy
- irritate
- bother
- bug
- persecute
- aggravate
- infuriate
- exasperate
- irk
- anger
- get
- rile
- spite
- provoke
- itch
- vex
- grate
- ruffle
- worry
- chafe
- peeve
- gripe
- tease
- insult
- eat
- get to
- nark
- nettle
- plague
- gall
- wear on
- rouse
- put out
- frost
- enrage
- offend
- outrage
- rub the wrong way
- rasp
- upset
- inflame
- burn (up)
- stick in one's craw
- get on one's nerves
- get one's goat
- harass
- nag
- enflame
- set one's teeth on edge
- disquiet
- unsettle
- agitate
- antagonize
- hack (off)
- heckle
- affront
- rankle
- bait
- distress
- discomfort
- harry
- badger
- hassle
- perturb
- roil
- exercise
- madden
- devil
- pester
- miff
- unhinge
- discompose
- incense
- bullyrag
- fret
- hagride
- ballyrag
- undo
- freak (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appease
- placate
- satisfy
- pacify
- gratify
- delight
- conciliate
- oblige
- mollify
- please
- propitiate
- assure
- comfort
- soothe
- reassure
- content
- cheer
- gladden
- quiet
- console
- solace
2
as in to provoke
to rouse to strong feeling or action their sarcastic comments piqued him to respond in kind Synonyms & Similar Words
- provoke
- encourage
- stimulate
- arouse
- excite
- stir
- inspire
- spark
- incite
- motivate
- motive
- impassion
- induce
- move
- instigate
- ignite
- trigger
- anger
- drive
- inflame
- galvanize
- enflame
- fan
- energize
- enrage
- fire (up)
- rev (up)
- foment
- build a fire under
- set off
- kindle
- bother
- irritate
- activate
- annoy
- vitalize
- upset
- exasperate
- quicken
- ferment
- animate
- taunt
- tease
- aggravate
- abet
- vex
- pump up
- raise
- madden
- jeer
- get
- gall
- key (up)
- whip (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soothe
- calm
- subdue
- appease
- placate
- mollify
- tranquillize
- pacify
- tranquilize
3
as in to pride
to think highly of (oneself) she piques herself on her considerable musical abilities Synonyms & Similar Words
- pride
- congratulate
- plume
- flatter
- gasconade
- brag
- vapor
- swank
- vaunt
- swagger
- boast
- felicitate
- crow
- swash
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of pique are dudgeon, huff, offense, resentment, and umbrage. While all these words mean "an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity," pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.
in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation
In some situations, the words dudgeon and pique are roughly equivalent. However, dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.
stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon
The meanings of huff and pique largely overlap; however, huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.
in a huff he slammed the door
The words offense and pique are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, offense implies hurt displeasure.
takes deep offense at racial slurs
While in some cases nearly identical to pique, resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.
harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother
The synonyms umbrage and pique are sometimes interchangeable, but umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.
took umbrage at the offer of advice