Meaning & use

pungent

adjective·Academic

Having a sharp, strong smell or taste that can be sharply irritating to the nose or tongue.

See it in a sentence

The pungent smell of garlic and onions filled the kitchen as dinner was prepared.

He offered a pungent critique of the government's handling of the crisis.

A note on using this word

Pungent most often describes smell or taste, but it can also describe speech or criticism that is sharply cutting or biting.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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