pungent

adjective

ˈpən-jənt How to pronounce pungent (audio)
Definition of pungentnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective pungent contrast with its synonyms?

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

When might piquant be a better fit than pungent?

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

When could poignant be used to replace pungent?

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

When can racy be used instead of pungent?

While the synonyms racy and pungent are close in meaning, racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pungent The diaries—particularly in Julian Sachs’s unexpurgated version, which captures Pavese’s alternating earnestness, archness, and pungent vulgarity—pose something of a problem. — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 My pungent plateful grew in strength from tomme to Shropshire blue, accompanied by crusty bread, fruit and nuts. — Adrienne Wyper, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 2026 Sweet onions contain fewer sulfurous compounds than pungent onions. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2026 Top it all with sharp cheddar, Romaine lettuce and garlic mayo for a hearty sandwich full of pungent, salty flavors. — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
  1. spicy
  2. satiric
  3. piquant
  4. tangy
  5. sarcastic
  6. delicious
  7. strong
  8. acidic
Adjective
  • The resulting meatballs were moist, herby, spiced, seasoned, spicy and just a joy to eat.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Braeburns have pronounced sweetness balanced by tartness, and their flavor becomes richer, almost spicy, in the oven.
    — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of spicy
Adjective
  • Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards has brought back his satirical Believe That Awards, which went viral in 2025 — reaching 150 million cross-platform views — for crowning Timothée Chalamet white boy of the year.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Cockroach movement began as an online satirical campaign this summer after India’s chief justice compared unemployed young people to parasites.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • Sipping on the watermelon, calamansi, ginger agua fresca was just the right pairing with my boldly piquant dinner.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Placebo, loukoumi, kouglof, toda raba, Sharapova, tempura, cacao, platypus, shrub, castagnette, potato salada, potage piquant pékinois.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of piquant
Adjective
  • Instead of a traditional citrus-soy dip, NoriFish pairs it with a sweet-and-tangy apple ponzu, adding a crisp, modern contrast to all that richness.
    — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Next are the sunny days and cool nights of high-altitude summers, which encourage production of sugars and other compounds that make the fruits teasingly tangy and blissfully sweet.
    — Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of tangy
Adjective
  • The interest has been driven largely by the brand's casual, sarcastic tone and active participation in online trends.
    — Megan Sauer, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Before the constant stream of sarcastic Ultron commentary wears out its welcome around the series’ halfway point, the bad guy’s brevity is a nice counterpoint to all of the sentient ennui.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • There are so many delicious desserts that star apples, including cakes, cobblers, and more.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026
  • No ermine robe was too soft, and no dish too delicious, for the cardinals of the past.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of delicious
Adjective
  • But zest was one of just two strengths (the other is hope) that had the strongest relationship to mental well-being across countries and age groups.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Descaling solution is an acidic liquid that reacts with—and therefore breaks down—alkaline mineral build ups that happen over time wherever tap water sits or flows.
    — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Bongulo Paneer — cooked in bamboo — with a coconut and capsicum poriyal blends peanut chutney with acidic gongura sour cream and fiery gunpowder.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of acidic

Browse Nearby Words

pungency
pungent
pungled (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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