pungent

[puhn-juhnt]

adjective

1. sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell, as if by a penetrating power; biting; acrid.

   Synonyms: sharp, piquant, peppery, hot
   Antonyms: bland, mild

2. acutely distressing to the feelings or mind; poignant.

3. caustic, biting, or sharply expressive.

   pungent remarks.

   Synonyms: bitter, acrimonious, cutting, mordant, sarcastic
   Antonyms: soothing

4. mentally stimulating or appealing.

   pungent wit.

   Synonyms: sharp, keen
   Antonyms: dull

5. Biology.,  piercing or sharp-pointed.

pungent

/ ˈpʌndʒənt /

adjective

1. having an acrid smell or sharp bitter flavour

2. (of wit, satire, etc) biting; caustic

3. biology ending in a sharp point

   a pungent leaf

Other Word Forms

• pungency noun
• pungently adverb
• nonpungency noun
• nonpungent adjective
• nonpungently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pungent¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin pungent-, stem of pungēns “pricking,” present participle of pungere “to prick”; poignant

Word History and Origins

Origin of pungent¹

C16: from Latin pungens piercing, from pungere to prick

Example Sentences

Multiply that by a family's worth of footwear, stack them on a rack, and you have a domestic design problem that's as pungent as it is universal.

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Days later he noticed a pungent smell too.

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Cornichons, on the other hand, are quite vinegar-y in flavor, so adding their brine to lemonade would make for a pungent and acidic drink.

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It’s a pungent quality — an internal characteristic that gives rise to outside counterforces.

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Smelling salts - a pungent mix of ammonia, water and ethanol - are marketed as improving mental alertness or boosting energy.

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Related Words

• acid 
• acrid 
• aromatic 
• bitter 
• peppery 
• piquant 
• poignant 
• salty 
• sharp 
• sour 
• spicy 
• stinging www.thesaurus.com
• tangy 
• zesty