pungent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   strong and sharp

   The pungent taste of radishes.

2. 2
   adj

   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.

3. 3
   adj

   Stinging; acerbic.

   The critic gave a pungent review.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Pungent, recorded from the late 16th century, comes from the same Latin source as poignant: pungere “to prick.” It originally meant “very painful or distressing” and could later mean forceful or convincing before becoming chiefly associated with sharply penetrating tastes and smells.

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

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary