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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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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Recent Examples of pungent
The flapjack was fluffy, the taters were crunchy and buttery, the chorizo had a spicy kick, and the pungent sourdough bread crunched.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
According to a Newsweek report on a YouGov poll, more than 80% of Americans consider disruptive behaviors—such as letting children play in the aisles, or eating pungent food—to be unacceptable.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Sour Diesel with Spicy Foods Sour Diesel, a sativa-dominant strain known for its pungent, diesel-like aroma and energizing effects, pairs exceptionally well with spicy foods.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
These large, flashy flowers—also known as titan arum—are famous for producing a pungent odor that stinks like rotting flesh.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
According to a Newsweek report on a YouGov poll, more than 80% of Americans consider disruptive behaviors—such as letting children play in the aisles, or eating pungent food—to be unacceptable.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Sour Diesel with Spicy Foods Sour Diesel, a sativa-dominant strain known for its pungent, diesel-like aroma and energizing effects, pairs exceptionally well with spicy foods.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025
These large, flashy flowers—also known as titan arum—are famous for producing a pungent odor that stinks like rotting flesh.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
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Some Asian ingredients include spicy xo sauce, Japanese snow crab and A5 Miyazaki Gyu, a top-grade Japanese wagyu beef.—
Samantha Husted,
Charlotte Observer,
5 June 2025
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Both of our children were a week past their due dates...so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work - there was only one thing left to do!—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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And to think, this pitiless conquistador came to North America as a humble kitchen herb, deliberately imported by European settlers for its piquant flavor.—
Zoë Lescaze,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
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Guests enjoyed small bites of briny mussels filled with Bluefin tuna, piquant gochujang sardine toasts, and an elegant Korean beef tartare.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The pollo a la brasa at El Mono’s original location is the perfect combo of smoky and tangy.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
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Greek yogurt has an extra production step that gives it a thicker consistency and tangier taste than regular yogurt, which is milder and thinner.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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All Systems Red is a legible introduction to Wells’ hyper-capitalist, playfully satiric galaxy.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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After a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Obama gave a poignant speech and called for an assault-weapons ban, which didn’t pass; after a mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, Ardern gave a poignant speech and called for an assault-weapons ban, which did.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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Today, the heath hen serves as a poignant reminder: even a species that seems secure can vanish within the span of a human lifetime.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Still, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video after facing criticism from Democrats over her response to the town hall attendees' concerns.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
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The vibe, never exactly cheerful, and never leavened by a hint of even the most sarcastic sense of humor, takes a turn for the horrific one evening in the wake of the bawdy revels celebrating Tomek’s wedding.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Fried rice is delicious on its own, but a block of extra-firm tofu can make this dish significantly more substantial and filling.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
30 May 2025
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My favorite way to use it up is by making zucchini butter—a luscious, versatile spread that is just as delicious on sandwiches as it is tossed with pasta.—
Kendra Vaculin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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