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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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
In Fez, shadowy narrow alleys twist through the medina—past mosaic-tiled courtyards and the pungent scent of leather dyeing vats.
—
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The store sells basic produce, along with more specialty items, like durian — a large, spiky fruit with a pungent smell and creamy texture — and taro — a root vegetable with vanilla and coconut undertones.
—Rachel Schlueter, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2025
Those bright, vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red also repel flies and other insects thanks to their pungent odors.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
The tapenade, a pungent combination of olives, garlic, capers and anchovy, can be prepared by hand or in a food processor and can serve as a base to a bright salad of tomatoes and peppers.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The store sells basic produce, along with more specialty items, like durian — a large, spiky fruit with a pungent smell and creamy texture — and taro — a root vegetable with vanilla and coconut undertones.
—Rachel Schlueter, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2025
Those bright, vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red also repel flies and other insects thanks to their pungent odors.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
The tapenade, a pungent combination of olives, garlic, capers and anchovy, can be prepared by hand or in a food processor and can serve as a base to a bright salad of tomatoes and peppers.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
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But now this metropolis of some 2 million people has more and more options for later in the day, ranging from an intimate dining counter where a local chef nerds out about indigenous ingredients to a sleek izakaya bar where the city’s scene-seeking gastronomes gather for spicy tuna hand rolls.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Guests can choose traditional, sweet and spicy, buffalo, ranch, or lemon pepper.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Within an hour of arriving, a familiar, piquant aroma wafted from the kitchen.—
Cleyvis Natera,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Garlic Parm blends rich Parmesan with garlic for a savory punch, and Buffalo delivers the classic tangy seasoning wing fans already know and love.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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The Original Joe—sauce, meat; classic—is a little tangy, the mixture tinted by Worcestershire and noticeably celery-forward.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The poem is part love quest, part account of Italy’s battles; in places profoundly serious, in places satiric.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
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Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The story is poignant because Wisner succumbed to severe bipolar disorder, leading to his suicide in 1965, at the age of 56.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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After a string of forgettable pictures, the helmer delivers a heartening, charming and empowering romance that never loses focus on its heroine’s poignant predicament.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.—
Elliot Hughes,
Journal Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2023
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This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Althoff’s sarcastic deadpan humor, beguiling personality and awkward line of questioning led her to interviews with Drake, Tyga, Lil Yachty, Rubi Rose, Nick Cannon and Mark Cuban.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
22 Aug. 2025
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For his part, Newsom says the aggressive and sarcastic tone of his social media posts represents the new reality Democrats face during Trump’s second term.—
Mark Joyella,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This leads us back to the Tall as a Tree and Twice as Shady, a drink on the opening menu of Three Dots and a Dash that’s as good an example as any of McGee’s tiki sensibilities—unexpected and delicious, creative and precise.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
23 Aug. 2025
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These copycat Auntie Anne’s style soft pretzels are fresh, buttery, and just as delicious—minus the mall lines.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
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