pungent — having a sharply strong taste or smell; having a strong effect on the mind because of being clearly expressed
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having a sharply strong taste or smell; having a strong effect on the mind because of being clearly expressed
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpʌndʒənt/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's kimchi is so pungent that it could wake the dead.
- The food critic's pungent review closed the restaurant within a week.
- His pungent sense of humor made everyone laugh and cringe at the same time.
pungent
ADJECTIVE[/ˈpʌndʒənt/]
having a sharply strong taste or smell; having a strong effect on the mind because of being clearly expressed
The pungent smell of chopped onions made everyone in the kitchen tear up.
Pungent smells make cleaning urgent, scrubbing hard with strong detergent!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'pungere' meaning 'to prick' or 'to sting.' The word captures the sharp, piercing sensation that strong smells or tastes create, as if they're literally stabbing your nose or tongue.
Breakdown
pung- (to prick/sting) + -ent (adjective suffix meaning 'having the quality of')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's kimchi is so pungent that it could wake the dead.”
“The food critic's pungent review closed the restaurant within a week.”
“His pungent sense of humor made everyone laugh and cringe at the same time.”
“The pungent smell of durian fruit is either loved or hated - there's no middle ground.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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