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 cheekily coined Cadieux e Pepe, a nod to Detroit’s Cadieux Road, reimagines cacio e pepe in pizza form—chewy dough crowned with sharp Parmesan, pungent fresh garlic, and cracked black pepper.
—
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
Atkinson recalls one particularly pungent dye made from red cabbages that smelled like rotting garbage, though the odor quickly dissipated when the candy reached the cooking step, where it’s heated to over 300 degrees.
—Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 27 July 2025
Thorne’s vitamins are no-fuss, no-frills, and yes—a bit pungent.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 July 2025
The scent of the earth was pungent and overpowered the acrid smell of the gunpowder, which dissipated into the air.
—Literary Hub, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
Atkinson recalls one particularly pungent dye made from red cabbages that smelled like rotting garbage, though the odor quickly dissipated when the candy reached the cooking step, where it’s heated to over 300 degrees.
—Suzy Khimm, NBC news, 27 July 2025
Thorne’s vitamins are no-fuss, no-frills, and yes—a bit pungent.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 July 2025
The scent of the earth was pungent and overpowered the acrid smell of the gunpowder, which dissipated into the air.
—Literary Hub, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
-
The shrimp dumplings are satisfyingly spicy and plump, and the beef noodle soup is comforting and well-balanced, with tender beef brisket chunks.—
Shindy Chen,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
-
That settles into a spicy suede with cardamom and benzoin, before warming into tonka bean, amber, and musk.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The tequila daisy cocktail, served in a clay cantarito cup smudged with sumac salt, is piquant with ancho verde, mellowed with summer strawberry.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
His piquant style of writing in the unfinished tell-all feels like dropping into a gossip circle in the most glamorous (and cutting) powder room on the planet.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Get the recipe > Charred ears of sweet corn are bathed in nutty brown butter and perked up with tangy pepperoncini in this bold yet simple side from chefs and vegetable enthusiasts Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson of Kismet in Los Angeles.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
4 Sep. 2025
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In addition to the myriad of options on the standard menu, guests in the know will sometimes order dishes like kimchi pork belly, which is stir-fried and topped with fresh green onions; or pork gyoza, crispy dumplings served with tangy soy, vinegar, and chili garlic dipping sauce.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
White Noise Noah Baumbach's 2022 satirical drama stars Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig — who married Baumbach in 2023 after dating for 12 years — play a married couple in the 1980s.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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While the homage is heartfelt, and certainly packs its share of genuine laughs, the end result can’t escape feeling like a hodgepodge, incapable of cohesively blending the satirical elements with the earnest messaging foremost on its mind.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
One of the most poignant choices is to intercut scratchy film of the train that in 1921 transported the Unknown Soldier to Rome in a coffin draped with patriotic banners and flowers, to be enshrined in the Altar of the Fatherland with an eternal flame at the Vittorio Emanuele II monument.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Pitted against the unforgettably evil Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a sadist who drugs and abuses the unlucky patients in her care, McMurphy’s stand against the oppressive powers that be is tragic and poignant and spoke to the spirit of a time in which so many felt misunderstood.—
Christina Newland,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Reese wants to skip through the rebuilding process, but doing so has already put Chicago in a position in which building a stronger talent base is going to be much more difficult.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Speaking to the crowd before the march, Eve Devitt, an Idaho human rights activist, said that LGBTQ+ history is built on fighting for rights, which makes the community stronger.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even an otherwise neutral comment can be contorted into a sarcastic retort, an insult or a counterattack.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
On the par-4 14th, Scheffler splashed out of a greenside bunker to 10 feet, missed the par putt, and then, without hesitation, threw a sarcastic fist pump toward the hole.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The food is basically pescatarian, beautifully presented and incredibly delicious.—
Sherrie Nachman,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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This powder comes in a few delicious flavors—unflavored, strawberry lemon, vanilla, and chocolate—and is packed with vitamin C, which can support collagen synthesis to further boost effectiveness, according to Fazio.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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