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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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
Rescuers even tried pumping a pungent banana oil down into the cave, hoping to find another viable entrance above ground.
—
Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Each bite leaves a pungent sheen of olive oil upon your lips, a sort of true love’s kiss for people who really get down with cold cuts.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Law enforcement has uncovered everything from cocaine hidden among bananas to heroin stashed among pungent shipments of garlic and onions.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 2 July 2025
The cloves should be golden, tender, and more sweet than pungent, similar to when they are roasted.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Each bite leaves a pungent sheen of olive oil upon your lips, a sort of true love’s kiss for people who really get down with cold cuts.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Law enforcement has uncovered everything from cocaine hidden among bananas to heroin stashed among pungent shipments of garlic and onions.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 2 July 2025
The cloves should be golden, tender, and more sweet than pungent, similar to when they are roasted.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
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But after its three-year hiatus, the food chain is re-releasing the sandwich, now with three versions to choose from—original, spicy and grilled.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
15 July 2025
-
Ginger Beer: As ever, the spicier the ginger beer, the better.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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My favorite dish here was a piquant ceviche served with tortilla chips.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2025
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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
Adjective
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The finish is long and tight with lingering notes of lemon and a tangy, wet stone minerality.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
-
The star of the recipe is a tangy balsamic vinegar reduction swirled in at the end of the churning process.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 July 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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Wonder’s poignant words led to an unexpected cover of John Lennon’s Imagine, setting the precedent for an uplifting and emotional night celebrating music, family and joy.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Like Wim Wenders’ poignant study of a middle-aged janitor’s routines in Tokyo, The Scout could find success in arthouse theaters and on the festival circuit.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 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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His passion for all-things superhero has a giddy innocence to it even when his films are sarcastic or jokey.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
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Both of us were sarcastic and fun and funny, and always making jokes and pranks and just having fun with everybody on set.—
Daniela Avila,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Heavy and unadorned, this simple slab of metal makes delicious pizza pies that are crispy and crusty in all the right places.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 July 2025
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Playing Francis Cobb was a great delicious blessing top to bottom.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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