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
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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
According to a post on Facebook by the New Zealand Police, a volunteer at the store noticed a pungent aroma before opening the bag, and found multiple small bags of marijuana and a large wad of cash.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The native of Roi Et, a small village in Northeast Thailand, learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother and carries forth their legacy with pungent pad ka pow and succulent roast chicken with crackling skin.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The sidewalk had been nearly unpassable and the smell was pungent.
—Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Our picks range from plump and pleasantly pungent to lean and luxurious, with budget and splurge options.
—Kathleen Squires, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The native of Roi Et, a small village in Northeast Thailand, learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother and carries forth their legacy with pungent pad ka pow and succulent roast chicken with crackling skin.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The sidewalk had been nearly unpassable and the smell was pungent.
—Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Our picks range from plump and pleasantly pungent to lean and luxurious, with budget and splurge options.
—Kathleen Squires, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
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Then there’s upscale Mexican restaurant El Molino, with its spicy twist on local Baja California cuisine, and Farina e Olio, an oceanfront Italian trattoria serving melt-in-your-mouth ravioli and life-altering desserts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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The red king, which is a spicy version of their pork broth ramen, was worth the years of anticipation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As journalism scholar Paul Alonso writes, looking at two cases from South America, sometimes satirical media takes up the slack.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Mar. 2026
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Since its premiere, the show has received critical acclaim for Smart and Einbender’s performances, as well as its satirical look at the ins and outs of show business.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Conductors often fetishize the opening bars of this opera, their squirmy alternation of silence and piquant dissonance.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
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Red cabbage, carrots and Tuscan kale form the base, bound together with a piquant balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Taste dressing and add the juice of remaining lemon to taste (dressing should be bright and tangy).—
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
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Both works, with aptly tangy orchestrations, got splendid performances, with particularly fine solos from principals Alexander Kerr (violin), Gregory Raden (clarinet) and James Romeo (piccolo).—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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James then scrunched his face into a sarcastic, close-eyed smile.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
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Brendon was a fan favorite among the cast for his loyalty to his friends and sarcastic sense of humor.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Their first round consisted of the Dove, a delicious spin on a whiskey sour, made with plum, five spice, and Armagnac, and the Kuniyoshi, a sharp mix of mezcal, shochu, vermouth, and pineapple.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Amid all the excitement, Jin, Jimin, and V stop by Vogue’s kitchen to cook up a delicious dinner for Now Serving, a video series in which celebrities make their favorite dishes.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The legislation has stalled amid strong pushback from critics.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Kodai Senga got the ball for the Mets and turned in a strong performance in his season debut.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The acidic composition of white vinegar works efficiently to break down the film that can accumulate on your windows.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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That’s thanks to a confluence of factors, not least of which is advancing can liner technology that make acidic beverages, like wine, more stable inside the package.—
Kate Bernot,
Outside,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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