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 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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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
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
Unrefined coconut oil has a more pungent coconut smell and flavor.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2025
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
Thorne’s vitamins are no-fuss, no-frills, and yes—a bit pungent.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Literary Hub, 18 July 2025
Unrefined coconut oil has a more pungent coconut smell and flavor.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2025
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
Thorne’s vitamins are no-fuss, no-frills, and yes—a bit pungent.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
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But now this metropolis of some 2 million people has more and more options for later in the day, ranging from an intimate dining counter where a local chef nerds out about indigenous ingredients to a sleek izakaya bar where the city’s scene-seeking gastronomes gather for spicy tuna hand rolls.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Pepper jelly is the secret to perfectly caramelized pork chops packed with sweet and spicy flavor.—
Brennan Long,
Southern Living,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Within an hour of arriving, a familiar, piquant aroma wafted from the kitchen.—
Cleyvis Natera,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The sauce is slow cooked for 8 hours on low, and that rich, tangy flavor can only be achieved when the sauce is made with plenty of time in advance.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
24 Aug. 2025
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For instance, Lay’s Dill Pickle Potato Chips and Taylor Farms’ Dill Pickle Salad Kit bring the tangy crunch into everyday foods.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The poem is part love quest, part account of Italy’s battles; in places profoundly serious, in places satiric.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
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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
Adjective
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The story is poignant because Wisner succumbed to severe bipolar disorder, leading to his suicide in 1965, at the age of 56.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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After a string of forgettable pictures, the helmer delivers a heartening, charming and empowering romance that never loses focus on its heroine’s poignant predicament.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
19 Aug. 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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Althoff’s sarcastic deadpan humor, beguiling personality and awkward line of questioning led her to interviews with Drake, Tyga, Lil Yachty, Rubi Rose, Nick Cannon and Mark Cuban.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
22 Aug. 2025
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What started as a sweet coming-of-age story between Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and her childhood best friend, Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), took a turn when Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), Dawson's sarcastic best friend, unexpectedly emerged as a real contender for Joey's heart.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This leads us back to the Tall as a Tree and Twice as Shady, a drink on the opening menu of Three Dots and a Dash that’s as good an example as any of McGee’s tiki sensibilities—unexpected and delicious, creative and precise.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
23 Aug. 2025
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These copycat Auntie Anne’s style soft pretzels are fresh, buttery, and just as delicious—minus the mall lines.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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