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   Pun·gent

   /ˈpənj(ə)nt/

   

   adjective

   • 1. having a sharply strong taste or smell: "the pungent smell of frying onions" Similar strongpowerfulpervasivepenetratingsuffocatingstiflingsharpacridacidsourbitingstingingburningsmartingirritatingnauseatingnauseoussicklyoffensiveastringentbitterfetidcloyingliterary:mephiticsouracidbitingbittertartvinegarytangyhighly flavoredaromaticspicyspicedpiquantpepperyhotfieryOpposite blandmildblandmild
   • ▪ (of comment, criticism, or humor) having a sharp and caustic quality: "he has expressed some fairly pungent criticisms" Similar causticbitingtrenchantcuttingacerbicsardonicsarcasticscathingacrimoniouspointedbarbedacidsharpkeentartstingingastringentincisivedevastatingpiercingpenetratingrapierlikerazor-edgedcriticalbitterpolemicvirulentvitriolicvenomouswaspishcorrosivemordantstringentrare:acidulousmordaciousOpposite blandmild

   Word Origin late 16th century (in the sense ‘very painful or distressing’): from Latin pungent- ‘pricking’, from the verb pungere.

   Derivatives

   • 1. pungency noun
   • 2. pungently adverb

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • P

     3

   • U

     1

   • N

     1

   • G

     2

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

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