Synonyms for pungent
ˈpʌn dʒəntpun·gent

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. pungent

   Acid, sour, and bitter agree in being contrasted with sweet, but the two former are sharply distinguished from the latter. Acid or sour is the taste of vinegar or lemon-juice; bitter that of quassia, quinine, or strychnine. Acrid is nearly allied to bitter. Pungent suggests the effect of pepper or snuff on the organs of taste or smell; as, a pungent odor. Caustic indicates the corroding effect of some strong chemical, as nitrate of silver. In a figurative sense, as applied to language or character, these words are very closely allied. We say a sour face, sharp words, bitter complaints, caustic wit, cutting irony, biting sarcasm, a stinging taunt, harsh judgment, a tart reply. Harsh carries the idea of intentional and severe unkindness, bitter of a severity that arises from real or supposed ill treatment. The bitter speech springs from the sore heart. Tart and sharp utterances may not proceed from an intention to wound, but merely from a wit recklessly keen; cutting, stinging, and biting speech indicates more or less of hostile intent, the latter being the more deeply malicious. The caustic utterance is meant to burn, perhaps wholesomely, as in the satire of Juvenal or Cervantes. Compare MOROSE.

   Synonyms:
   acerb, acetous, acid, acidulated, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, biting, bitter, caustic, cutting, harsh, irate, savage, sharp, sour, stinging, tart, vinegarish, virulent

   Antonyms:
   dulcet, honeyed, luscious, nectared, saccharine, sweet

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. pungent

   Synonyms:
   pricking, piercing, acrid, mordant, biting, stinging, stimulating, keen, trenchant, caustic, piquant, sarcastic

   Antonyms:
   soothing, mellow, luscious, unctuous

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. pungent, acridadjective

   strong and sharp;"the pungent taste of radishes"

   "the acrid smell of burning rubber"

   Synonyms:
   caustic, mordacious, acrid, vitriolic, acid, barbed, sulphurous, biting, bitter, virulent, blistering, acerbic, sulfurous, acerb, nipping

   Antonyms:
   unsarcastic, tasteless

2. barbed, biting, nipping, pungent, mordaciousadjective

   capable of wounding

   "a barbed compliment"; "a biting aphorism"; "pungent satire"

   Synonyms:
   briary, nipping, prickly, barbed, setose, mordacious, snappy, crisp, burred, nippy, bristly, barbellate, setaceous, briery, thorny, acrid, burry, biting, bitter, spiny, bristled, frosty

   Antonyms:
   unsarcastic, tasteless

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pungentadjective

   Synonyms:
   stinging, stimulating, pricking, sharp, biting, burning, hot, peppery, piercing, penetrating, piquant, acrid, caustic

2. pungentadjective

   Synonyms:
   acute, keen, acrimonious, severe, distressing, poignant

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. pungentadjective

   Synonyms:
   pricking, stinging, poignant, sharp, excruciating, severe

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "pungent":

   spicy

How to pronounce pungent?

How to say pungent in sign language?

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How to use pungent in a sentence?

1. Robert Southey:

   If you would be pungent, be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.

2. Jamie Jordan:

   They have a very organic, very pungent and clay-like smell.

3. Chinese Proverb:

   Sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, all must be tasted.

4. Aurora Anaya-Cerda:

   Marigold flowers are used for Day of the Dead because of their pungent smell. It's supposed to attract the spirits back on this one day they are allowed to return to visit family and friend.

5. Robert Southey:

   If you would be pungent, be brief for it is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.