pique

v

1. irritate, annoy, irk, vex, peeve, nettle, chafe, Chiefly U.S. rile, Inf. aggravate, Inf. miff, Inf. give [s.o.] a pain, Inf. get under [s.o.'s] skin, Inf. get in [s.o.'s] hair, Sl. bug; exasperate, ruffle, roil, disturb, perturb, disquiet, discompose, discountenance, put out, try [s.o.'s] patience, get, Sl. get [s.o.'s] goat; bother, pester, harass, fret, trouble, plague, beset; torment, tease, taunt, mock, tweak, bully, bullyrag.

3. offend, affront, insult; humiliate, mortify; (all of the feelings, pride, etc.) hurt, molest, wound, sting, pain.

4.(all of the interest or curiosity) excite, arouse, rouse, stimulate, whet, stir, goad, spur, prick; interest, tantalize, titillate, tickle, attract, fascinate, Sl. turn on.

5. provoke, agitate, foment, inflame, kindle, enkindle, fire, fire up, whip up, work up, stir up, wind up; incite, instigate, ignite, touch off.

n

6. irritation, annoyance, vexation, exasperation, Inf. aggravation; displeasure, dissatisfaction, discontent, disapproval, disapprobation.

7. anger, ire, dudgeon, high dudgeon; offense, umbrage, indignation, huff, tiff, fume, Inf. slow burn.

8. embitterment, bitterness, exacerbation, bitter resentment, resentment, hard feelings; spleen, choler, gall, bile, ill or bad humor, ill or bad temper, ill or bad feeling; virulence, acerbity, acrimony; hurt feelings, wounded pride.