pungent

/ˈpʌndʒənt/adjective

Having a sharp, strong smell or taste that seems to sting the nose.

Example sentences

“The pungent smell of raw onions filled the kitchen.”
“Blue cheese is too pungent for some people's taste.”

Not always an insult: cheeses and mustards are admiringly pungent. Also figurative, as in pungent criticism.

Featured as word of the day on February 1, 2026.

Synonyms for pungent

sharp
strong
acrid
tangy
piquant

Antonyms

mild
bland
faint

Often confused with pungent

pungent vs poignant: poignant (adjective): Producing a strong feeling of sadness or emotional pain.

Find it in: Advanced English words.

Related words

pugnaciousQuick to argue or fight; aggressive by nature.quandaryA situation in which you cannot decide what to do; a state of confusion or doubt.protrudeTo stick out beyond a surface or edge.quellTo stop or calm something, often by using force or authority.querulousAlways complaining, often in an irritable or whining tone.quintessentialBeing the clearest and most typical example of something.