PUNGENCY Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

pungency

noun

ˈpən-jən(t)-sē

Definition of pungency

as in bitterness

a harsh or sharp quality the pungency of the vinegar gives the salad dressing the kick that it needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in spice

the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses theatergoers have long delighted in the pungency and wit of the play's dialogue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pungency Wasabi is known for its nasal-clearing pungency, exceeding that of any other condiment. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026 The Scherzo married sweetness and pungency. — Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026 Key Takeaways Capsaicin, the bioactive compound that gives chili peppers their pungency, can impact your gastrointestinal system and digestion. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 17 Feb. 2026 The hard edges and pungency of a relatively cheap, unaged spirit were far less visible in the Viriato samples. — Christopher Null, Wired News, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pungency

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungency

Noun

But few, if any, can match the tradition, scale, and bitterness of the yearly clash between Alabama and Tennessee on the third Saturday in October.

— Austin Evans, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2026
Written with a reporter’s sharp eye for detail and a remarkable lack of anger or bitterness, this is a compelling story of courage and grace.

— Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of bitterness

Noun

From smoky, spirit-forward drinks to warming spices and frightening garnishes, cocktails in October have a little extra mystery.

— Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
There was a basket with lemons, each one tied with red curling ribbon, fish spices stacked, the register with all the keys covered by a silicone hood, and a pile of newspapers next to a pile of wrapping sheets.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spice

Noun

The alternate versions certainly add extra bite, and a few outtakes could have made it to the main tracklist.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Pieces of fish are hand sliced to the ideal thickness and length, and beautifully adorned with garnishes that dazzle the eye and strategically heighten every bite.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of bite

Noun

Those split levels of child and adult consciousness give the film a certain piquancy, a little gap where drama can spark in a story where almost nothing really happens except a kid takes a plane ride, or several plane rides, with his mom.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
That Mann himself had written stories on gay themes added to the piquancy of the encounter.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

Definition of piquancy

Noun

Yet, as in many speculative markets, sophisticated participants often have access to better information, stronger analytical tools and more advanced risk-management techniques than retail participants, giving them an informational edge.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
The eastern edge of the park is the north-south alley that serves businesses along Laramie.

— Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of edge

Noun

The movie sanitizes the past and removes its tang, its pungency, leaving a craving for contact with nature, with raw experience, with incongruities and accidents and anything but what fits, in lieu of such synthetic sophistication.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2026
The pickled papaya salad on top lends the loveliest bit of sweet tang and a little crunch.

— Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of tang

Noun

To be sure, practicing a zest for life can be harder for those who have physical illness and pain and those who engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Appreciation of beauty and excellence ranks near the top of her list, along with gratitude and zest.

— Allison Aubrey, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of zest

Browse Nearby Words

pundits

pungency

pungent

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Style

“Pungency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungency. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pungency

noun

Example Sentences

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