Word Adjective
pungent
adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈpəndʒənt/ UK /pˈʌndʒənt/ pun·gent
Definition
adj.having a strong, sharp, or unpleasant smell. You use this to describe things like strong spices or certain types of cheese.
adj.having a strong, sharp, or penetrating smell, often one that is unpleasant or irritating. Frequently used to describe chemical substances, spices, or fermented foods.
Examples
“The kitchen was filled with the pungent smell of garlic.”
“The chef added a pungent spice to the sauce to give it a more intense flavor.”
“The pungent aroma of the citrus peel lingered in the air long after the guests had finished their meal.”
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin pungens (stem pungent-), present participle of pungo (“to sting”). Doublet of poignant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Latin pungens
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated