to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, esp. by some wound to pride

She was greatly piqued when they refused her invitation.

to wound (the pride, vanity, etc.).

to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.)

Her curiosity was piqued by the gossip.

to arouse an emotion or provoke to action

to pique someone to answer a challenge.

Archaic . to pride (oneself) (usually fol. by on or upon ).

to arouse pique in someone

an action that piqued when it was meant to soothe.

a feeling of irritation or resentment, as from a wound to pride or self-esteem

to be in a pique.

Obsolete . a state of irritated feeling between persons.

noun

cheer , happiness , joy

verb

delight , please

noun

annoyance , blowup * , conniption , dander * , displeasure , flare-up , grudge , huff , hurt , irk , miff * , offense , peeve , pet * , provocation , resentment , rise , ruckus * , slow burn , snit , sore * , stew * , storm * , tiff * , umbrage , vexationnotes:peak means \'maximize , \' peek means \'to peep or snoop , \' and pique means \'to excite or irritate\' , dudgeon , miff , ruffled feathers

verb

absorb , affront , annoy , arouse , bother , bug * , displease , egg on * , exasperate , excite , fire up , gall , galvanize , get * , get a rise out of , get under skin , give a hard time , give the business , goad , goose * , grab , ignite , incense , irk , irritate , kindle , make waves , miff * , mortify , motivate , move , nettle , offend , peeve , prick , put out * , quicken , rile , rouse , spur , stimulate , sting * , stir , vex , whet , work up * , woundnotes:peak means \'maximize , \' peek means \'to peep or snoop , \' and pique means \'to excite or irritate\' , huff , miff , outrage , egg on , foment , impel , incite , inflame , inspire , instigate , prod , prompt , propel , set off , touch off , trigger , work up , aggravate , anger , annoyance , displeasure , fret , grudge , ire , irritation , offense , pout , pride , provoke , resentment , snit , sting , strunt , umbrage , vexation