pungent
adjective
pun·gent ˈpən-jənt 
1
: sharply painful
2
: having a stiff and sharp point
pungent leaves
3
a
: marked by a sharp incisive quality : caustic
a pungent critic
pungent language
b
: being sharp and to the point
4
a
: causing a sharp or irritating sensation
especially : acrid
b
: having an intense flavor or odor
a pungent chili
pungently adverb
Synonyms
- nippy
- sharp
- strong
- tangy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The left has often complained that what it needs isn't polite speech, but voices as pungent as those on the right. 
Jennifer Senior, New York Times Book Review, 24 Sept. 2006 I remember the enormous size of that fire and the pungent smell of smoke from the burning chaparral as the flames raced up the slope toward our house. Tim White, Curious Minds, 2004 Maybe what seems pungent to the locals only becomes alarming when sniffed through a giant Western proboscis, but there are some odors in China that make a visit to Bhopal seem like a picnic downwind from the Arpege factory. P. J. O'Rourke, Holidays in Hell, 1988 a play with pungent dialogue a pungent satire of current politics
Jennifer Senior, New York Times Book Review, 24 Sept. 2006 I remember the enormous size of that fire and the pungent smell of smoke from the burning chaparral as the flames raced up the slope toward our house. Tim White, Curious Minds, 2004 Maybe what seems pungent to the locals only becomes alarming when sniffed through a giant Western proboscis, but there are some odors in China that make a visit to Bhopal seem like a picnic downwind from the Arpege factory. P. J. O'Rourke, Holidays in Hell, 1988 a play with pungent dialogue a pungent satire of current politics Recent Examples on the Web The sugar coating was the most cinnamon-forward of the churros sampled for this story, with a pungent aroma and almost peppery bite of spice. Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Aug. 2022 The pungent aroma that stinky tofu (chou dou fu) is known for comes from the fermentation process. Kate Springer, CNN, 22 Aug. 2022 There’s really nothing Russian about the landscape, the clothes, and least of all the French language spoken here, which all feels distilled down from the source to produce a singular but pungent essence. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 Its vapor is lighter than air and has the same pungent odor as household ammonia. CBS News, 3 Sep. 2022 Served with a pungent tzatziki sauce and pita wedges, the dolmades boast refreshing notes of onion and lemon laced with olive oil. Joanna O'leary, Chron, 21 July 2021 Some must-haves are good olive oil and neutral oil, vinegars, mustards, pungent and savory things like soy sauce and fish sauce, and a good variety of spices in addition to salt and pepper. Dana Mcmahan, The Courier-Journal, 23 Aug. 2022 The headiest ingredient is the dialogue: a thick, pungent cloud of jargon and slang. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2022 The rum is pungent, creamy and savory on the nose, with a mushroom and artichoke-like quality. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Aug. 2022 The pungent aroma that stinky tofu (chou dou fu) is known for comes from the fermentation process. Kate Springer, CNN, 22 Aug. 2022 There’s really nothing Russian about the landscape, the clothes, and least of all the French language spoken here, which all feels distilled down from the source to produce a singular but pungent essence. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 Its vapor is lighter than air and has the same pungent odor as household ammonia. CBS News, 3 Sep. 2022 Served with a pungent tzatziki sauce and pita wedges, the dolmades boast refreshing notes of onion and lemon laced with olive oil. Joanna O'leary, Chron, 21 July 2021 Some must-haves are good olive oil and neutral oil, vinegars, mustards, pungent and savory things like soy sauce and fish sauce, and a good variety of spices in addition to salt and pepper. Dana Mcmahan, The Courier-Journal, 23 Aug. 2022 The headiest ingredient is the dialogue: a thick, pungent cloud of jargon and slang. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2022 The rum is pungent, creamy and savory on the nose, with a mushroom and artichoke-like quality. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin pungent-, pungens, present participle of pungere to prick, sting; akin to Latin pugnus fist, pugnare to fight, Greek pygmē fist
First Known Use
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
pungent
adjective
pun·gent ˈpən-jənt
: having a strong or sharp taste or smell
a pungent odor
Medical Definition
pungent
adjective
pun·gent -jənt
: causing a sharp or irritating sensation
especially : acrid
pungent
adjective
1
as in spicy
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor a pungent chili that is not for those with timid taste buds Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- spicy
- tangy
- delicious
- strong
- acidic
- acrid
- nippy
- peppery
- piquant
- sharp
- acid
- aromatic
- zesty
- zingy
- putrid
- hot
- skunky
- tart
- bitter
- gingery
- rancid
- provocative
- harsh
- invigorating
- acute
- flavorful
- redolent
- appetizing
- delectable
- exciting
- energizing
- tasty
- savory
- toothsome
- galvanizing
- palatable
- rank
- savoury
- animating
- keen
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mild
- smooth
- bland
- mellow
- ripe
- soft
- gentle
- insipid
- aged
- thin
- flat
- tasteless
- weak
- watery
- flavorless
- dilute
- zestless
- savorless
2
as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings a pungent put-down that she will not soon forget Synonyms & Similar Words
- satiric
- sarcastic
- acidic
- satirical
- acid
- acrid
- barbed
- caustic
- acerbic
- sardonic
- corrosive
- biting
- scathing
- acidulous
- tart
- mordant
- sharp
- snarky
- scalding
- cutting
- ironic
- acerb
- cynical
- sour
- harsh
- incisive
- blunt
- spiky
- concise
- trenchant
- poignant
- smart-alecky
- smart-mouthed
- dry
- ironical
- wry
- brisk
- smart-aleck
- sourish
- cross
- pithy
- vitriolic
- severe
- bitter
- gruff
- flippant
- acrimonious
- succinct
- crisp
- abrupt
- brusque
- stringent
- facetious
- sharp-tongued
- curt
- terse
- keen
- spikey
- tartish
- resentful
- tongue-in-cheek
- snippy
- backhanded
- insincere
- rough
- brusk
- snippety
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amusing
- mild
- playful
- gentle
- waggish
- merry
- droll
- bland
- sportive
- diplomatic
- smooth
- polite
- suave
- urbane
- hospitable
- affable
- cordial
- good-natured
- gracious
- genial
- good-humored
- sociable
3
as in piquant
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a newspaper columnist known for his pungent observations on everyday life Synonyms & Similar Words
- spicy
- piquant
- zesty
- salty
- zingy
- poignant
- delicious
- savory
- biting
- peppery
- savoury
- pert
- fascinating
- provocative
- vinegary
- flavorful
- trenchant
- acute
- gingery
- fiery
- interesting
- invigorating
- racy
- hot
- mordant
- exciting
- appetizing
- enlightening
- provoking
- delectable
- intriguing
- energizing
- tasty
- bitter
- toothsome
- absorbing
- gripping
- galvanizing
- scrumptious
- luscious
- engrossing
- cutting
- riveting
- palatable
- keen
- ambrosial
- enthralling
- engaging
- arresting
- animating
- piquing
- savorous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- insipid
- tasteless
- dry
- arid
- colorless
- ponderous
- dull
- banal
- predictable
- tedious
- flavorless
- flat
- stale
- uninteresting
- thin
- boring
- monotonous
- leaden
- drab
- stodgy
- numbing
- watery
- weak
- bland
- zestless
- wearisome
- dreary
- barren
- tiring
- humdrum
- flat
- pedestrian
- dilute
- savorless
- wearying
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of pungent are piquant, poignant, and racy. While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.
a cheese with a pungent odor
While in some cases nearly identical to pungent, piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.
a piquant sauce
The words poignant and pungent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.
felt a poignant sense of loss
While the synonyms racy and pungent are close in meaning, racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.
spontaneous, racy prose