GRE Confusing Words Practice
piquant / ˈpiːkənt /picante / pɪˈkɑnteɪ /
1
The story had a ____ irony: the detective investigating the theft was secretly the thief, a twist that made readers eager to learn more.
2
His ____ remark about her repeated failures stung her pride and left her visibly hurt.
3
Her ____ wit, full of playful surprises and sharp observations, made even a routine meeting entertaining.
Note
In English, piquant can describe wit or a situation that is engaging, intriguing, or provocatively amusing; it can also describe a stinging remark. Picante describes spicy food or food prepared with a spicy sauce. Both can describe food, so these sentences focus on piquant's figurative meanings.