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

“Sometimes, it would be really, really pungent,” she recalled, adding that she’d get headaches and feel like throwing up.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was as if someone had made a goulash out of spoiled fish, sprinkled it with pungent cheese, and then served it in an unsanitary shoe.

Read more on Literature

The air was thick with pungent smells and with steam rising up from the herd.

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I chugged cups of instant black coffee like water, not paying much heed to the bitter, pungent aftertaste that lingered on my tongue and scorched my throat.

Read more on Salon

As pungent as our political discourse may often be, calling for a sacking still has an extra severity to it.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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