pungent

American  

[puhn-juhnt] / ˈpʌn dʒənt /

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.

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pungent British  

/ 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

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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

Explanation

Use pungent to describe a taste or smell that gives a sharp sensation. "What is that pungent odor?" is a polite way of suggesting that someone in the room has BO. The ultimate source of the word pungent is Latin pungere, "to prick, sting." Ginger and mustard seed are examples of pungent spices. Limburger cheese has the distinction of being the most pungent of all cheeses. And if your pet has an accident in the house, there may be a pungent odor. And pungent can be used in a figurative sense: pungent language is stimulating and expressive.

Example Sentences

"When the shop worker took the bag inside, they noticed that this particular donation had a distinctive pungent aroma," a police spokesperson told the New Zealand Herald.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

If I were unlucky enough to do so, I’d instantly lose my appetite, spitting out those pungent, peppery seeds with such haste and chugging glasses of water in an attempt to clean my palate.

From Salon • Jan. 25, 2026

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

And Joq is genuinely fascinated by the way hickory smoke mellows and rounds out a pungent blue cheese.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

I let that girl walk home while I took in the sights of the city, the noise and colors, the music, the pungent smells of restaurants and car exhaust.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Related Words

• acid
• acrid
• aromatic
• bitter
• peppery
• piquant
• poignant
• salty
• sharp
• sour
• spicy
• stinging
• tangy
• zesty