pungent

[ puhn-juhnt ]
/ ˈpʌn dʒənt /

adjective

sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell, as if by a penetrating power; biting; acrid.
acutely distressing to the feelings or mind; poignant.
caustic, biting, or sharply expressive: pungent remarks.
mentally stimulating or appealing: pungent wit.
Biology. piercing or sharp-pointed.

Origin of pungent

1590–1600; < Latin pungent- (stem of pungēns), present participle of pungere to prick. See poignant, point, -ent

OTHER WORDS FROM pungent

Words nearby pungent

Example sentences from the Web for pungency

British Dictionary definitions for pungency

pungent
/ (ˈpʌndʒənt) /

adjective

having an acrid smell or sharp bitter flavour
(of wit, satire, etc) biting; caustic
biology ending in a sharp point a pungent leaf

Derived forms of pungent

pungency, noun pungently, adverb

Word Origin for pungent

C16: from Latin pungens piercing, from pungere to prick