pungency

noun

ˈpən-jən(t)-sē How to pronounce pungency (audio)
Definition of pungencynext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 Red onion adds pungency while a couple of tablespoons of fresh, feathery dill bring a cooling, fragrant burst of freshness to the dish. — Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for pungency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungency
  1. bitterness
  2. spice
  3. bite
  4. piquancy
  5. edge
  6. tang
  7. acidity
  8. zest
Noun
  • The salmoriglio, a Calabrian condiment with garlic and herbs similar to chimichurri, features dandelion greens, their bitterness a counter to some of the sweetness.
    — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The amateur is freed from the pressures of exhibition and sale, but that might just as easily breed bitterness as happiness.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • Therapy rooms look out over the open ocean, as therapists deploy local oils, herbs, and spices via an imaginative roster of treatments.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Add the spice mixture and toast until slightly fragrant, about 45 seconds.
    — Rachel Gurjar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of spice
Noun
  • Shamonda virus is spread by bites from a type of fly called a midge.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Eleven people remain missing after an 89-hour search; several survivors suffered injuries consistent with shark bites.
    — Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 25 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
  • Sequenced at the center of a three-track medley, its death-dream logic deliberately evokes the SMiLE era’s dark, confusing edge.
    — Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Wear one in beige or white to add a bit of brightness to your look, or black for some edge.
    — Michel Mejía, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Save the vinegar for dishes that need tang, not mirin’s rounded sweetness.
    — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of tang
Noun
  • Lactic acid, on the other hand, simply uses its acidity to loosen those bonds.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026
  • It is aged for 11 months on the lees with little to no stirring and has aromas of yellow plum, peach, and citrus flowers with balanced acidity that pave the way for flavors of citrus pith, grapefruit, and green apple.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of acidity
Noun
  • Onion and garlic build the base, red pepper flakes bring heat, and Parmesan and lemon zest keep things salty, nutty, and bright.
    — Rachel Gurjar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The orange zest added into the frosting adds a bit of brightness that punches up this delightful dessert.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of zest

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pundits
pungency
pungent
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Cite this Entry

“Pungency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungency. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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