pungent
adjective
pun·​gent
| \ ˈpən-jənt
\
\
Definition of pungent
1
: sharply painful
2
: having a stiff and sharp point
pungent leaves
b
: being sharp and to the point
b
: having an intense flavor or odor
a pungent chili
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Examples of pungent in a Sentence
The left has often complained that what it needs isn't polite speech, but voices as pungent as those on the right.
— Jennifer Senior, New York Times Book Review, 24 Sept. 2006
I remember the enormous size of that fire and the pungent smell of smoke from the burning chaparral as the flames raced up the slope toward our house.
— Tim White, Curious Minds, 2004
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Recent Examples on the Web
Perhaps best known for its pungent smell and medicinal properties, ginkgo actually boasts an impressive backstory. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Smithsonian Scientists Need Ginkgo Leaves to Study Climate Change—They Need Your Help," 6 Aug. 2019 In the 1880s, the Prussian Ministry of Agriculture commissioned the German biologist Albert Bernhard Frank to systematically research the possibility of cultivating truffles—the pungent and delectable fruiting bodies of various fungi. — Ferris Jabr, Harper's magazine, "The Story of Storytelling," 10 Mar. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pungent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for pungent
pungent
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of pungent
: having a strong, sharp taste or smell
: having a strong effect on the mind because of being clever and direct
See the full definition for pungent in the English Language Learners Dictionary
pungent
adjective
pun·​gent
| \ ˈpən-jənt
\
\
Kids Definition of pungent
: having a strong or sharp taste or smell
a pungent odor
pungent
adjective
pun·​gent
| \ -jənt
\
\
Medical Definition of pungent
: causing a sharp or irritating sensation
especially
: acrid