pungent
Americanadjective
-
sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell, as if by a penetrating power; biting; acrid.
-
acutely distressing to the feelings or mind; poignant.
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caustic, biting, or sharply expressive.
pungent remarks.
- Synonyms:
- bitter, acrimonious, cutting, mordant, sarcastic
- Antonyms:
- soothing
-
mentally stimulating or appealing.
pungent wit.
- Antonyms:
- dull
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Biology. piercing or sharp-pointed.
adjective
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having an acrid smell or sharp bitter flavour
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(of wit, satire, etc) biting; caustic
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biology ending in a sharp point
a pungent leaf
Other Word Forms
- nonpungency noun
- nonpungent adjective
- nonpungently adverb
- pungency noun
- pungently adverb
Etymology
Origin of pungent
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin pungent-, stem of pungēns “pricking,” present participle of pungere “to prick”; poignant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Aside from being a general nuisance with their ferocious snores, pungent odors and growls, bears can do serious damage to a home.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026
The book is potent, pungent and powerful on every page, full of excitement and zany counterculture cool and spiced with Mr. Freston’s razor-sharp observations and quick wit.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
As pungent as our political discourse may often be, calling for a sacking still has an extra severity to it.
From BBC • Oct. 30, 2025
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.
From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025
The smell of oil was everywhere, heavy and pungent, exciting the senses.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
