1
as in spicy
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor
a pungent chili that is not for those with timid taste buds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pungent
On a searing hot day in Mattiyarenthal, a village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, women farmers toil over chile pepper plants as their sharp, pungent scent fills the air.
—
Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
City officials have encouraged Golden Leaf restaurant to install an expensive filter to address the pungent smell, though owners insist that none of their immediate shopping center neighbors have complained about the odor.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Maverick’s invisibility should provide a way out of this — but alas, his pungent cologne immediately sets off Dogknott’s super-scent.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
Those conditions also affect compounds like ammonia, the pungent-smelling gas that Germany began producing synthetically in World War I after its supplies of nitrates from Chile were cut off.
—Marilen Martin, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
City officials have encouraged Golden Leaf restaurant to install an expensive filter to address the pungent smell, though owners insist that none of their immediate shopping center neighbors have complained about the odor.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Maverick’s invisibility should provide a way out of this — but alas, his pungent cologne immediately sets off Dogknott’s super-scent.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
Those conditions also affect compounds like ammonia, the pungent-smelling gas that Germany began producing synthetically in World War I after its supplies of nitrates from Chile were cut off.
—Marilen Martin, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pungent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungent
Adjective
-
The company makes pickles in flavors such as hot, half-sour and sweet and spicy.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
It’s finished in a spicy-sweet sauce that would make a rubber tire taste good.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Advertisement How the shooting unfolded The WHCA dinner is an annual event for White House staff and the press, typically featuring comedy and a satirical speech from the president.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Now, the 67-year-old is taking on Broadway in The Balusters, a satirical comedy written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Kenny Leon.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Conductors often fetishize the opening bars of this opera, their squirmy alternation of silence and piquant dissonance.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
The fruit is sweet with pleasant, slightly tangy undertones.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
-
Spicy Buffalo chicken, tangy blue cheese, and sweet Hawaiian rolls combine for the perfect balance of flavors.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Middle of Nowhere’s Kacey is witty, a bit sarcastic, alternately ecstatic and frustrated but always ready to entertain.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
-
According to a live feed from The New York Times, within minutes of the third day starting, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had to reproach Musk, instructing him to stop being sarcastic and evasive.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Houston is a mecca for high-calorie delicious meals.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But, the second, is that marigolds will make your carrots sweeter and more delicious thanks to increasing the carotenoid content and sugars within the carrots.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jessica Chmielewski, Colleen Gartlan and Ella Riordan led a strong defensive effort in front of Noone.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Set one clear boundary today and confirm expectations so your commitments stay strong and manageable.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In some parts of the world, rivers near cobalt and copper mines have become so acidic that communities can no longer drink water from them.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Ideally, lavender should be grown in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline, but never acidic.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pungent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungent. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
