piqued curiosity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "piqued curiosity" is correct and commonly used in written English.
Example: The unexpected ending of the novel piqued my curiosity, leaving me eager to know what would happen next.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The news has piqued curiosity on the other side of the border, including an invitation from the Iranian Kurdish town of Sardasht, 430km west of Tehran, to share details of the project.

The Guardian

See how I added emotion, piqued curiosity and made the post more relatable?

Huffington Post

A spokesperson for Icelandair said that the volcano activity actually piqued curiosity in Iceland as a destination.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The sight of the police's closing off Graham Avenue to traffic piqued Chris Tocco's curiosity.

The New York Times

In fact, it was "post-mortem and spirit photography" that piqued Stanley Burns's curiosity about photo manipulation in the first place.

The New York Times - Books

The result: a 115,000-word book too facile for the audience most likely to engage with it but which will leave the casual listener, curiosity piqued by bleeding chunks of Bach, Beethoven and Bartok on Classic FM, floundering like a Grade I student asked to sight-read a piano concerto.

Independent

Curiosity piqued?

TechCrunch

When someone told me Keller was giving away all of his possessions except for a plaque of Lenin as part of an art project, my curiosity was seriously piqued.

Vice

As a piqued Clive Crook put it, writing for Bloomberg View:A line has been crossed when the principal spokesmen for contending opinions have no curiosity whatsoever about their opponents' ideas and radiate cold, steady contempt for each other.

The Economist

Curiosity prevailed.

The New Yorker

For curiosity?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "piqued curiosity" when you want to convey a sense of gentle stimulation of interest, often implying a subtle or intriguing cause.

Common error

Avoid misspelling "piqued" as "peeked" or "picked". "Piqued" refers to stimulated interest, while "peeked" means to glance quickly, and "picked" means to choose or pluck. The context will significantly change if the wrong word is used.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "piqued curiosity" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun. "Piqued" acts as a verb, indicating the action of stimulating or arousing, while "curiosity" is the noun representing the state of wanting to know or learn something. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "piqued curiosity" is a phrase used to describe something that has stimulated interest or inquisitiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and is used correctly in written English. While its frequency is uncommon, it finds its home primarily in news and media contexts. The phrase conveys a gentle stimulation of interest, often implying a subtle or intriguing cause. Remember to avoid common misspellings and consider synonyms like "sparked interest" or "aroused wonder" for variety. Overall, "piqued curiosity" is a valuable phrase for expressing the spark of inquisitiveness in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sparked interest

Replaces "piqued curiosity" with a more direct expression of generating interest.

awakened an interest

Similar to 'sparked interest', but with a slightly softer connotation of bringing something to life.

ignited inquisitiveness

Substitutes "curiosity" with "inquisitiveness" and uses "ignited" to convey a stronger sense of activation.

stirred up inquisitiveness

Uses 'stirred up' to depict the act of awakening the trait of inquisitiveness.

generated intrigue

Focuses on creating a sense of mystery and fascination.

aroused wonder

Emphasizes the feeling of amazement and interest that arises.

stimulated fascination

Focuses on creating a captivating interest or charm.

kindled an inquisitive spirit

Focuses on lighting up the human spirit's desire to question, explore, and find things out.

whetted the appetite for knowledge

Uses a metaphorical approach to describe increasing the desire for information.

fostered a desire to learn more

Highlights the nurturing of an eagerness to expand one's knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "piqued curiosity" in a sentence?

You can use "piqued curiosity" to describe something that has stimulated interest or inquisitiveness. For example, "The unusual advertisement "piqued curiosity" among potential customers."

What does "piqued curiosity" mean?

"Piqued curiosity" means to have stimulated or aroused interest or inquisitiveness. It suggests that something has sparked a desire to know more.

What are some synonyms for "piqued curiosity"?

Some synonyms for "piqued curiosity" include "sparked interest", "aroused wonder", and "stimulated fascination".

Is it correct to say "peeked curiosity" instead of "piqued curiosity"?

No, it is not correct. "Piqued" means to stimulate or arouse, while "peeked" means to glance quickly. Using "peeked" instead of "piqued" would be a misspelling and change the meaning of the phrase.