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 satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a pungent put-down that she will not soon forget
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pungent
One is aji verde, a fiery, electric green sauce made with Peruvian yellow peppers, and huacatay, a pungent, black mint with hints of tarragon and citrus.
—
Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Mamlets are cooked in pungent mustard oil and amped up with onions and chiles.
—Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026
The last is a raicilla with a pungent nose and a fruity, funky flavor.
—M. Carrie Allan, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2026
Like other alliums, their strong, pungent scent and flavor help deter rabbits from munching.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Mamlets are cooked in pungent mustard oil and amped up with onions and chiles.
—Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026
The last is a raicilla with a pungent nose and a fruity, funky flavor.
—M. Carrie Allan, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2026
Like other alliums, their strong, pungent scent and flavor help deter rabbits from munching.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
-
Grilled spam, traditionally served on rice cakes, is settled onto crispy hash browns, wrapped with nori and served with a side of spicy sriracha mayo.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
-
Or there’s the adobo pork, which is this tangy, spicy pork stew.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Part satirical, part political, the BAFTA-winning film and subsequent album, Fine Art — a level up from their 2018 Irish-language mixtape 3CAG — solidified Kneecap’s place in music, earning them fans worldwide who come out in droves to their gigs and turning them into a popular festival draw.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
6 May 2026
-
The Boys is an American satirical dark comedy television show that flips the conventional superhero narrative on its head by imagining a society where superpowers are abused for influence and profit.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
The piquant dish is lacquered with strawberry-guajillo barbecue sauce, while a punchy coleslaw with Fresno chile vinaigrette rounds things out.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
-
Conductors often fetishize the opening bars of this opera, their squirmy alternation of silence and piquant dissonance.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s made from a simple family recipe containing only finely ground meat in a dark red, tangy sauce.—
George Motz,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
-
Breads and dips rotate at every meal, too—ezay, a ubiquitous Bhutanese chili condiment made with tangy local tree tomatoes, was especially memorable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
In addition to Miranda's scathing remarks to Andy (Anne Hathaway) while trying to complete seemingly impossible tasks, Emily (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) taught her how to navigate office politics with their own sarcastic comments.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
-
Middle of Nowhere’s Kacey is witty, a bit sarcastic, alternately ecstatic and frustrated but always ready to entertain.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Take care not to overmix; keeping some larger pieces of tuna in the mix ensures a more satisfying texture, rather than something closer to tuna salad (delicious, just not the goal here).—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 May 2026
-
Le Petit Paris Counter-service breakfast and lunch orders get the French touch at this delicious bakery and cafe in an Atlantic Beach strip mall.—
Terry Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori continued to provide balance against Atletico three days later, and were also key components to Arsenal’s strong start against West Ham, alongside Leandro Trossard.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
The case that Ashton and Bradley heavily influenced each other is stronger, if also strained.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Avoid using vinegar and other acidic cleaners to clean glass doors in showers with natural stone because the acidity can etch or damage the finish.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
-
Sodium bisulfate is an acidic salt often used to lower pH in swimming pools, spas and industrial water systems, and is also used in metal finishing, food processing, cleaning products and sanitizing.—
Kris Habermehl,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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