Something that is pungent has a strong, sharp smell or taste which is often so strong that it is unpleasant.
The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be.
...the pungent smell of burning rubber.
Synonyms: strong, hot, spicy, seasoned More Synonyms of pungent
pungencyuncountable noun [usually with poss]
...the spices that give Jamaican food its pungency.
2. adjective
If you describe what someone has said or written as pungent, you approve of it because it has a direct and powerful effect and often criticizes something very cleverly.
[formal, approval]
He enjoyed the play's shrewd and pungent social analysis.
Synonyms: cutting, pointed, biting, acute More Synonyms of pungent
pungent in British English
(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
Derived forms
pungency (ˈpungency)
noun
pungently (ˈpungently)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin pungens piercing, from pungere to prick
pungent in American English
(ˈpʌndʒənt)
adjective
1.
producing a sharp sensation of taste and smell; acrid
2.
sharp and piercing to the mind; poignant; painful
3.
sharply penetrating; expressive; biting
pungent language
4.
keenly clever; stimulating
Derived forms
pungency (ˈpungency)
noun
pungently (ˈpungently)
adverb
Word origin
L pungens, prp. of pungere, to prick, puncture: see point
Examples of 'pungent' in a sentence
pungent
It will go much darker and become less pungent in both taste and aroma.
The Sun (2013)
It smells pungent and is very salty.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Fresh turmeric is more powerful and pungent than the dried stuff.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It had a pungent smell and gave you cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As we walked down the lane its pungent smell made our stomachs rumble.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The heady air was filled with exotic fragrances of spices laced with the pungent aroma of seething humanity.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He always knew there was a good time going on because there would be laughter and a pungent smell.
The Sun (2015)
Alsace has had a strong, pungent history.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It has a light aroma and a persistent, pungent taste.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
Uses - its pungent bitter smell is reputed to repel insects.
Stickland, Sue Planning the Organic Herb Garden (1986)
There's a pungent smell of marijuana in the air.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It has a pungent smell of garlic, and grows in colonies away from the bluebells.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We went to the front door and as it was opened there was a strong, pungent smell.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I can still remember the pungent smell.
Jan Fennell FRIENDS FOR LIFE (2003)
But it was the pungent, aromatic smell coming from the property that made the neighbours in the quiet suburban terrace increasingly suspicious.
The Sun (2012)
Uses - in cooking to make a pungent sauce; also many medicinal uses.
Stickland, Sue Planning the Organic Herb Garden (1986)
It is notoriously pungent, extremely powerful and a favourite at Chinese banquets.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This can cause an'off' flavour and a pungent smell.
The Sun (2007)
The air smells smoky, charred, and in some areas a pungent smell persists that nobody can identify.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If you like your eggs dark green and with a pungent smell, head to China for a century egg.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
As the name suggests, the area is rich in sulphur and that means it smells pretty pungent - think rotten eggs.
The Sun (2016)
I love the pungent smell of their leaves as they are cut from August to November.
The Sun (2008)
It sounds an odd pairing but used sparingly, the earthy, pungent and aromatic flavour of sage adds rich warmth to simply cooked white fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
pungent
British English: pungent ADJECTIVE
Something that is pungent has a strong, sharp smell or taste which is often so strong that it is unpleasant.
The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be.
American English: pungent
Brazilian Portuguese: pungente
Chinese: 刺鼻的
European Spanish: acre
French: piquant
German: scharf
Italian: forte
Japanese: 刺すように刺激する
Korean: 톡 쏘는듯 자극적인
European Portuguese: pungente
Latin American Spanish: acre
1 (adjective)
Definition
having a strong sharp bitter smell or taste
The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be.
Synonyms
strong
strong aftershave
hot
He loved hot curries.
spicy
Thai food is hot and spicy.
seasoned
sharp
a colourless, almost odourless liquid with a sharp, sweetish taste
acid
This apple juice has gone off and is somewhat acid.
bitter
The leaves taste rather bitter.
stinging
sour
The stewed apple was sour even with honey.
tart
a slightly tart piece of candy
aromatic
a shrub with aromatic leaves
tangy
smoked salmon, tangy cheeses and oysters
acrid
The room filled with the acrid smell of tobacco.
peppery
A crisp green salad with a few peppery radishes.
piquant
a mixed salad with a piquant dressing
industrial-strength mainly humorous)
highly flavoured
acerb
Opposites
weak
, moderate,
dull
,
mild
,
bland
,
tasteless
,
unsavoury
,
unstimulating
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of speech or writing) biting
He enjoyed the play's shrewd and pungent social analysis.
Synonyms
cutting
People make cutting remarks to help themselves feel superior to others.
pointed
a pointed remark
biting
This was the most biting criticism made against her.
acute
His relaxed exterior hides an extremely acute mind.
telling
sharp
‘Don't criticize your mother,’ was his sharp reprimand.
keen
a keen sense of humour
stinging
piercing
He fixes you with a piercing stare.
penetrating
a penetrating mind
poignant
stringent
scathing
He then launched a scathing attack on previous leaders.
acrimonious
The acrimonious debate on the agenda ended indecisively.
barbed
barbed comments
incisive
a shrewd operator with an incisive mind
sarcastic
She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.
caustic
He was well known for his abrasive wit and caustic comments.
vitriolic
trenchant
He was shattered by the trenchant criticism.
mordant
He describes the situation with mordant wit.
mordacious
Opposites
dull
,
inane
Seebitter
Nearby words of
pungent
punctuate
puncture
pundit
pungent
punish
punishable
punishing
Synonyms of 'pungent'
pungent
Explore 'pungent' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acute
Definition
penetrating in perception or insight
His relaxed exterior hides an extremely acute mind.
Synonyms
perceptive,
sharp,
keen,
smart,
sensitive,
clever,
subtle,
piercing,
penetrating,
discriminating,
discerning,
ingenious,
astute,
intuitive,
canny,
incisive,
insightful,
observant,
perspicacious (formal),
on the ball (informal)
in the sense of aromatic
Definition
having a distinctive pleasant smell
a shrub with aromatic leaves
Synonyms
fragrant,
perfumed,
spicy,
savoury,
pungent,
balmy,
redolent,
sweet-smelling,
sweet-scented,
odoriferous
in the sense of barbed
barbed comments
Synonyms
cutting,
pointed,
biting,
critical,
acid,
hostile,
nasty,
harsh,
savage,
brutal,
searing,
withering,
scathing,
unkind,
hurtful,
belittling,
sarcastic,
caustic,
scornful,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
acrid,
catty (informal),
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of biting
Definition
sarcastic
This was the most biting criticism made against her.
Synonyms
sarcastic,
cutting,
sharp,
severe,
stinging,
withering,
scathing,
acrimonious,
incisive,
virulent,
caustic,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of bitter
Definition
having an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange
The leaves taste rather bitter.
Synonyms
sour,
biting,
sharp,
acid,
harsh,
unpleasant,
tart,
astringent,
acrid,
unsweetened,
vinegary,
acidulated,
acerb
in the sense of caustic
Definition
bitter and sarcastic
He was well known for his abrasive wit and caustic comments.
Synonyms
sarcastic,
biting,
keen,
cutting,
severe,
stinging,
scathing,
acrimonious,
pungent,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of hot
Definition
spicy or causing a burning sensation on the tongue
He loved hot curries.
Synonyms
spicy,
pungent,
peppery,
piquant,
biting,
sharp,
acrid
in the sense of incisive
Definition
direct and forceful
a shrewd operator with an incisive mind
Synonyms
penetrating,
sharp,
keen,
acute,
piercing,
trenchant,
perspicacious (formal)
in the sense of keen
Definition
(of a knife or blade) having a sharp cutting edge
a keen sense of humour
Synonyms
sharp,
satirical,
incisive,
trenchant,
pointed,
cutting,
biting,
edged,
acute,
acid,
stinging,
piercing,
penetrating,
searing,
tart,
withering,
scathing,
pungent,
sarcastic,
sardonic,
caustic,
astringent,
vitriolic,
acerbic,
mordant,
razor-like,
finely honed
in the sense of mordant
Definition
sarcastic or caustic
He describes the situation with mordant wit.
Synonyms
sarcastic,
cutting,
biting,
edged,
sharp,
acid,
harsh,
stinging,
scathing,
acrimonious,
pungent,
incisive,
caustic,
venomous,
astringent,
vitriolic,
acerbic,
trenchant,
waspish,
mordacious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of penetrating
Definition
tending to or able to penetrate
a penetrating mind
Synonyms
intelligent,
quick,
sharp,
keen,
critical,
acute,
profound,
discriminating,
shrewd,
discerning,
astute,
perceptive,
incisive,
sharp-witted,
perspicacious (formal),
sagacious (formal)
in the sense of peppery
Definition
tasting of pepper
A crisp green salad with a few peppery radishes.
Synonyms
hot,
fiery,
spicy,
pungent,
highly seasoned,
piquant
in the sense of piercing
He fixes you with a piercing stare.
Synonyms
perceptive,
searching,
aware,
bright,
sharp,
keen,
alert,
probing,
penetrating,
shrewd,
perspicacious (formal),
quick-witted
in the sense of piquant
Definition
having a spicy taste
a mixed salad with a piquant dressing
Synonyms
spicy,
biting,
sharp,
stinging,
tart,
savoury,
pungent,
tangy,
highly-seasoned,
peppery,
zesty,
with a kick (informal),
acerb
in the sense of poignant
Definition
cutting
Synonyms
cutting,
pointed,
biting,
sharp,
keen,
acute,
severe,
piercing,
penetrating,
sarcastic,
caustic
in the sense of pointed
Definition
cutting or incisive
a pointed remark
Synonyms
cutting,
telling,
biting,
sharp,
keen,
acute,
accurate,
penetrating,
pertinent,
incisive,
trenchant
in the sense of sarcastic
Definition
full of or showing sarcasm
She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.
Synonyms
ironical,
cynical,
satirical,
cutting,
biting,
sharp,
acid,
mocking,
taunting,
sneering,
acrimonious,
backhanded,
contemptuous,
disparaging,
sardonic,
caustic,
bitchy (informal),
vitriolic,
acerbic,
derisive,
ironic,
mordant,
sarky (British, informal),
mordacious,
acerb
in the sense of scathing
Definition
harshly critical
He then launched a scathing attack on previous leaders.
Synonyms
critical,
cutting,
biting,
harsh,
savage,
brutal,
searing,
withering,
belittling,
sarcastic,
caustic,
scornful,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of sharp
Definition
having a bitter or sour taste
a colourless, almost odourless liquid with a sharp, sweetish taste
Synonyms
sour,
strong,
tart,
pungent,
hot,
burning,
acid,
bitter,
tangy,
acidic,
acerbic,
acrid,
piquant,
acetic,
vinegary,
acerb
in the sense of sharp
Definition
bitter or harsh
‘Don't criticize your mother,’ was his sharp reprimand.
Synonyms
cutting,
biting,
severe,
bitter,
harsh,
scathing,
acrimonious,
barbed,
hurtful,
sarcastic,
sardonic,
caustic,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious,
acerb
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sour
Definition
having a sharp biting taste like the taste of lemon juice or vinegar