'Pungent' definitions:
Definition of 'pungent'
From: WordNet
adjective
Strong and sharp;"the pungent taste of radishes"; "the acrid smell of burning rubber" [syn: pungent, acrid]
adjective
Capable of wounding; "a barbed compliment"; "a biting aphorism"; "pungent satire" [syn: barbed, biting, nipping, pungent, mordacious]
Definition of 'Pungent'
From: GCIDE
- Pungent \Pun"gent\, a. [L. pungens, -entis, p. pr. of pungere, punctum, to prick. Cf. Compunction, Expunge, Poignant, Point, n., Puncheon, Punctilio, Punt, v. t.]
- 1. Causing a sharp sensation, as of the taste, smell, or feelings; pricking; biting; acrid; as, a pungent spice. [1913 Webster]
- Pungent radish biting infant's tongue. --Shenstone. [1913 Webster]
- The pungent grains of titillating dust. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Sharply painful; penetrating; poignant; severe; caustic; stinging. [1913 Webster]
- With pungent pains on every side. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
- His pungent pen played its part in rousing the nation. --J. R. Green. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Bot.) Prickly-pointed; hard and sharp. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Acrid; piercing; sharp; penetrating; acute; keen; acrimonious; biting; stinging. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'pungent'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- acerb,
- acerbate,
- acerbic,
- acescent,
- acid,
- acrid,
- acrimonious,
- acute,
- afflictive,
- agonizing,
- amaroidal,
- aphoristic,
- aromatic,
- asperous,
- astringent,
- atrocious,
- Attic,
- axiomatic,
- barbed,
- biting,
- bitter,
- bitter as gall,
- brilliant,
- caustic,
- clever,
- coarse,
- consuming,
- crab,
- crabbed,
- cramping,
- crisp,
- cruel,
- cutting,
- deafening,
- distressing,
- droll,
- dry,
- epigrammatic,
- escharotic,
- exciting,
- excruciating,
- facetious,
- flavorful,
- formulaic,
- formulistic,
- funny,
- gnawing,
- gnomic,
- grave,
- green,
- griping,
- hard,
- harrowing,
- harsh,
- hot,
- humorous,
- humorsome,
- hurtful,
- hurting,
- incisive,
- intense,
- irritating,
- jesting,
- jocose,
- jocular,
- joking,
- joky,
- joshing,
- keen,
- keen-witted,
- lively,
- loud,
- mordant,
- nimble-witted,
- nose-piercing,
- nose-tickling,
- oppressive,
- painful,
- paroxysmal,
- penetrating,
- peppery,
- peppy,
- pickled,
- piercing,
- piquant,
- pithy,
- platitudinous,
- poignant,
- pointed,
- proverbial,
- provocative,
- quick-witted,
- racking,
- racy,
- rapier-like,
- reeking,
- rich,
- rough,
- salt,
- salty,
- sapid,
- sarcastic,
- scathing,
- scintillating,
- seasoned,
- sec,
- sententious,
- severe,
- sharp,
- shooting,
- smart,
- snappy,
- sour,
- sour as vinegar,
- soured,
- sourish,
- sparkling,
- spasmatic,
- spasmic,
- spasmodic,
- spicy,
- spirited,
- sprightly,
- stabbing,
- stern,
- stimulating,
- stinging,
- strong,
- strong-scented,
- strong-smelling,
- succinct,
- suffocating,
- tangy,
- tart,
- tartish,
- tasty,
- terse,
- thundering,
- tormenting,
- torturous,
- trenchant,
- uninteresting,
- unripe,
- unsweet,
- unsweetened,
- upsetting,
- vinegarish,
- vinegary,
- vitriolic,
- vivacious,
- whimsical,
- witty,
- zesty