Dictionary

pungent en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• pŭnjənt
• (US) audio
• /ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin pungens (stem pungent-), present participle of pungo (“to sting”). Doublet of poignant.

Meanings

1. Having a strong odor that stings the nose; said especially of acidic or spicy substances.
   • I accidentally dropped the bottle of ammonia and after few seconds, a very pungent stench could be detected.
   • I can almost smell the fir scent... resinous, pungent. 1991, Paul Chadwick, Concrete: American Christmas, Dark Horse Books:
   • Pilton Yard, the Lynton & Barnstaple headquarters, has been taken over by a fur trading firm, and would-be trespassers to the old engine-shed are turned back by the pungent odour of heaps of carcases. 1951 February, “Notes and News: Lynton & Barnstaple Remains”, in Railway Magazine, page 136:
2. Having a strong taste that stings the tongue; said especially of hot (spicy) food, which has a strong and sharp or bitter taste.
3. (figuratively) Stinging; acerbic.
   • The critic gave a pungent review.
4. Having a sharp and stiff point.

Forms

Deriveds

pungently · pungence · overpungent · unpungent · nonpungent · pungency

Synonyms

assertive · poignant · poignant · assertive

Translations (86)

fi pistävä (having a strong odour) · el καυστικός (having a sharp and stiff point) · ru е́дкий (having a strong odour) · ro înțepător (having a strong flavor) · ru о́стрый (having a strong odour) · it sferzante (having a sharp and stiff point) · cs kousavý (stinging (remark or critique)) · nl scherp (having a strong odour) · el δριμύς (having a strong odour) · be во́стры (having a sharp and stiff point) · de beißend (having a strong odour) · it pungente (having a strong odour) · cs výrazný (having a strong flavor) · th ฉุน (having a strong odour) · ru о́стрый (having a sharp and stiff point) · cmn 辛辣 (having a sharp and stiff point) · sv stickande (having a strong odour) · it pungente (having a sharp and stiff point) · es punzante (having a sharp and stiff point) · cmn 刺鼻 (having a strong odour) · grc δριμύς (having a strong flavor) · fr piquant (having a sharp and stiff point) · fr âcre (having a strong odour) · hu csípős (having a strong odour) · it caustico (having a sharp and stiff point) · de stechend (having a strong odour) · hu árvégű (having a sharp and stiff point) · nl scherp (having a sharp and stiff point) · es acre (having a strong odour) · sa तिग्म (having a strong flavor) · hu éles (having a sharp and stiff point) · cs jizlivý (stinging (remark or critique)) · ota كسكین (having a strong flavor) · ro înțepător (having a strong odour) · ga borb (having a strong odour) · el δηκτικός (having a sharp and stiff point) · es pungente (having a sharp and stiff point) · as কেঁহা (having a strong odour) · vi gắt (having a strong odour) · cs pronikavý (having a strong odour) · es pungente (having a strong flavor) · ml എരിവ് (having a strong flavor) · ota ایتی (having a strong flavor) · es pungente (having a strong odour) · ota حریف (having a strong flavor) · sv skarp (having a strong flavor) · hu szúrós (having a sharp and stiff point) · lv kodīgs (having a strong odour) · pl zgryźliwy (stinging (remark or critique)) · pl kłujący (having a strong odour) · pl zjadliwy (stinging (remark or critique)) · es acre (having a strong flavor) · it tagliente (having a sharp and stiff point) · nl stekend (having a strong odour) · bg заострен (having a sharp and stiff point) · ota كسكین (having a strong odour) · cs sžíravý (stinging (remark or critique)) · pl ostry (having a strong flavor) · el οξύς (having a strong odour) · ru е́дкий (having a sharp and stiff point) · lv smails (having a sharp and stiff point) · cs palčivý (having a strong flavor) · lv ass (having a sharp and stiff point) · it salace (having a sharp and stiff point) · lv ass (having a strong flavor) · it acre (having a strong odour) · pl gryzący (having a strong odour) · pl ostry (having a sharp and stiff point) · lv sīvs (having a strong odour) · hu hegyes (having a sharp and stiff point) · mi kanekane (having a strong odour) · bg пикантен (having a strong flavor) · hu szúrós szagú (having a strong odour) · grc δριμύς (having a strong odour) · de penetrant (having a strong odour) · fr pointu (having a sharp and stiff point) · cs ostrý (having a strong flavor) · bg остър (having a strong odour) · pl ostry (having a strong odour) · cs čpavý (having a strong odour) · cs štiplavý (having a strong odour) · el αψύς (having a strong odour) · vi hăng (having a strong odour) · be во́стры (having a strong odour) · it mordace (having a sharp and stiff point) · es acerbo (having a strong flavor)