Thesaurus

pungent

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of pungent

1 having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor

a pungent chili that is not for those with timid taste buds

Synonyms of pungent

nippy, sharp, strong, tangy

Words Related to pungent

acrid, bitter, harsh

gingery, hot, peppery, piquant, spicy, tart, zesty, zingy

putrid, rancid, rank, skunky

animating, energizing, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, provocative

appetizing, delectable, delicious, palatable, toothsome

flavorful, savory (also savoury), tasty

aromatic, redolent

Near Antonyms of pungent

aged, mellow, ripe

flat, flavorless, insipid

savorless, tasteless, zestless

dilute, thin, watery, weak

Antonyms of pungent

bland, mild, smooth

2 marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings

a pungent put-down that she will not soon forget

Synonyms of pungent

acerb, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulous, acrid, barbed, biting, caustic, corrosive, cutting, mordant, sarcastic, sardonic, satiric (or satirical), scalding, scathing, sharp, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, smart-mouthed, snarky, tart

Words Related to pungent

brisk, cross, sharp-tongued, sour, sourish, spiky (also spikey), tartish

incisive, keen, poignant, trenchant

cynical, dry, ironic (also ironical), wry

facetious, flippant, tongue-in-cheek

acrimonious, bitter, resentful, vitriolic

harsh, rough, severe, stringent

abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), concise, crisp, curt, gruff, pithy, snippety, snippy, succinct, terse

backhanded, insincere

Near Antonyms of pungent

amusing, droll, merry, playful, sportive, waggish

good-humored, good-natured

diplomatic, polite, smooth, suave, urbane

affable, cordial, genial, gracious, hospitable, sociable

3 sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses

a newspaper columnist known for his pungent observations on everyday life

Synonyms of pungent

pert, piquant, poignant, salty, savory (also savoury), zesty, zingy

Words Related to pungent

fiery, gingery, hot, peppery, vinegary

biting, bitter, cutting, mordant, trenchant

animating, energizing, enlightening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, piquing, provocative, provoking

ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, delicious, luscious, palatable, scrumptious, toothsome

flavorful, savorous, tasty

absorbing, arresting, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, gripping, interesting, intriguing, riveting

Near Antonyms of pungent

flat, flavorless, savorless, tasteless

arid, banal, barren, boring, colorless, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, numbing, pedestrian, ponderous, predictable, stale, stodgy, tedious, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, wearying

bland, dilute, thin, watery, weak

Antonyms of pungent

insipid, zestless

Synonym Discussion of pungent

pungent, piquant, poignant, racy mean sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses. pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

- a cheese with a pungent odor

piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

- a piquant sauce

poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

- felt a poignant sense of loss

racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

- spontaneous, racy prose

Learn More about pungent

Dictionary: Definition of pungent Medical Dictionary: Definition of pungent Spanish Central: Translation of pungent Nglish: Translation of pungent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pungent for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pungent? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

ethereal

of or relating to the heavens