pungency

noun

ˈpən-jən(t)-sē How to pronounce pungency (audio)
Definition of pungencynext
1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality the pungency of the vinegar gives the salad dressing the kick that it needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spice
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses theatergoers have long delighted in the pungency and wit of the play's dialogue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pungency Red onion adds pungency while a couple of tablespoons of fresh, feathery dill bring a cooling, fragrant burst of freshness to the dish. — Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026 Wasabi is known for its nasal-clearing pungency, exceeding that of any other condiment. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026 The Scherzo married sweetness and pungency. — Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026 Key Takeaways Capsaicin, the bioactive compound that gives chili peppers their pungency, can impact your gastrointestinal system and digestion. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pungency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungency
  1. bitterness
  2. spice
  3. bite
  4. piquancy
  5. edge
  6. tang
  7. acidity
  8. zest
Noun
  • But few, if any, can match the tradition, scale, and bitterness of the yearly clash between Alabama and Tennessee on the third Saturday in October.
    — Austin Evans, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Written with a reporter’s sharp eye for detail and a remarkable lack of anger or bitterness, this is a compelling story of courage and grace.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • From smoky, spirit-forward drinks to warming spices and frightening garnishes, cocktails in October have a little extra mystery.
    — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • There was a basket with lemons, each one tied with red curling ribbon, fish spices stacked, the register with all the keys covered by a silicone hood, and a pile of newspapers next to a pile of wrapping sheets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of spice
Noun
  • Shamonda virus is spread by bites from a type of fly called a midge.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Eleven people remain missing after an 89-hour search; several survivors suffered injuries consistent with shark bites.
    — Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Those split levels of child and adult consciousness give the film a certain piquancy, a little gap where drama can spark in a story where almost nothing really happens except a kid takes a plane ride, or several plane rides, with his mom.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • That Mann himself had written stories on gay themes added to the piquancy of the encounter.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of piquancy
Noun
  • Sequenced at the center of a three-track medley, its death-dream logic deliberately evokes the SMiLE era’s dark, confusing edge.
    — Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Wear one in beige or white to add a bit of brightness to your look, or black for some edge.
    — Michel Mejía, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • The movie sanitizes the past and removes its tang, its pungency, leaving a craving for contact with nature, with raw experience, with incongruities and accidents and anything but what fits, in lieu of such synthetic sophistication.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The pickled papaya salad on top lends the loveliest bit of sweet tang and a little crunch.
    — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of tang
Noun
  • Use sparingly, as vinegar’s acidity can damage rubber gaskets over time.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Red wine vinegar brings welcome acidity to BA’s Best Gazpacho, coq au vin, a pot of hearty lentils, and rich meat marinades.
    — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of acidity
Noun
  • To be sure, practicing a zest for life can be harder for those who have physical illness and pain and those who engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Appreciation of beauty and excellence ranks near the top of her list, along with gratitude and zest.
    — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of zest

Browse Nearby Words

pundits
pungency
pungent
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Cite this Entry

“Pungency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungency. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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