1
as in spicy
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor
a pungent chili that is not for those with timid taste buds
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in satirical
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a pungent put-down that she will not soon forget
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pungent
Once these yellow, red, orange, or cream blooms appear, squirrels will leave them alone due to their strong, pungent odor.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025
Swift kept experimenting to make her music more pungent, more extreme, even more her.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
In addition to security concerns, Sun Fresh spent a significant amount of time and resources working to locate a pungent sewage smell many customers complained about.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2025
The spicy jerk chicken had a marinated sauce that gave it a pungent hotness.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025
Swift kept experimenting to make her music more pungent, more extreme, even more her.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
In addition to security concerns, Sun Fresh spent a significant amount of time and resources working to locate a pungent sewage smell many customers complained about.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2025
The spicy jerk chicken had a marinated sauce that gave it a pungent hotness.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
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Unlike other game-day snacks like chips or popcorn, where flavors and textures can get a little one-note after a while, ALDI’s Cajun Trail Mix keeps your taste buds entertained with different flavors—salty, sweet, and spicy—and different textures, too.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
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The sandwich options vary by protein, with choices including Spam, bacon, ham and spicy pork.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The tequila daisy cocktail, served in a clay cantarito cup smudged with sumac salt, is piquant with ancho verde, mellowed with summer strawberry.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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His piquant style of writing in the unfinished tell-all feels like dropping into a gossip circle in the most glamorous (and cutting) powder room on the planet.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Generally, red apples are considered sweeter, and green apples are more tangy and crispy.—
Jamie Johnson,
Verywell Health,
29 Sep. 2025
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There’s black-eyed peas and corn next, followed by the cream cheese, which gives the appetizer a nice creamy and tangy element.—
Liz Mervosh,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And the show has to be satirical.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
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Kuang's latest is a satirical look at the brutal nature of academia.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The band has garnered widespread recognition for their poignant storytelling and socially conscious lyrics.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
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Hot Ones host Sean Evans delivered a poignant motivational speech during a surprise appearance on popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon 3 livestream on Wednesday, offering insight and advice related to patience and perseverance wrapped in his signature down-to-earth style.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, while vision isn’t their strongest sense, dogs may even be able to see certain aspects of a TV show.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
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The young right-hander put together a strong season, but few were better after the All-Star break.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Notably absent was Jennette McCurdy, who played Carly's sarcastic sidekick Sam in the original series.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
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Denise – scrappy, sarcastic, and clever – at first was hostile towards Steven, but that passionate annoyance later evolved into teasing, affectionate companionship.—
Sarah John,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nothing beats a delicious meal that comes together in one pot while delivering maximum flavor with minimal cleanup.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
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Besides the delicious sandwiches, the mango and papaya parfait was particularly delightful and light, and the chocolate cake came adored with a pink butterfly.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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