piques
Stirs up interest
Piques is the verb form of pique, meaning to stimulate or arouse interest or curiosity: The mystery piques my curiosity.
Less commonly, pique means to wound someone's pride or cause resentment: She was piqued by his dismissive tone.
A fit of pique is a brief spell of wounded vanity or irritation.
Cause mild irritation
- vexTo irritate persistently
- irkTo mildly vex
- nettleBristled plant; to annoy
- rileAnger through irritation
gall · rankle · chafe · needle · provoke · aggravate · exasperate · displease
Secret plotting or fascination
- fascinateIntensely attract and hold
- captivateHold attention irresistibly
- interestAttention, stake, or fee
- arouseTo stimulate or excite
spark · kindle · stimulate · engage · tantalize · entice · beguile · allure
Persistent resentment toward someone
indignation · wounded pride · bruised ego · grievance · animosity · bitterness · jealousy · envy
annoy
Cause mild irritation
rile · gall · rankle · chafe · needle · provoke · aggravate · exasperate · displease · offend
intrigue
Secret plotting or fascination
- fascinateIntensely attract and hold
- captivateHold attention irresistibly
- interestAttention, stake, or fee
arouse · spark · kindle · stimulate · engage · tantalize · entice · beguile · allure · attract
grudge
Persistent resentment toward someone
offense · indignation · wounded pride · bruised ego · grievance · animosity · bitterness · jealousy · envy · fit