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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pungency
Ginger contains more than 400 chemical compounds, but the anti-nausea effect primarily stems from two — gingerol and shogaol — which give the plant its pungency.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The hard edges and pungency of a relatively cheap, unaged spirit were far less visible in the Viriato samples.
—Christopher Null, Wired News, 11 Nov. 2025
This historic two-game parlay of pungency followed up a classic, a double-overtime loss to Oregon, back when Franklin’s inability to beat high-ranking opponents was his biggest problem.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
The vinegar used to quick pickle the onions also adds a vinegary pungency to the salad, and dill and basil work together to add fresh and herbaceous notes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungency
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The hard edges and pungency of a relatively cheap, unaged spirit were far less visible in the Viriato samples.
—Christopher Null, Wired News, 11 Nov. 2025
This historic two-game parlay of pungency followed up a classic, a double-overtime loss to Oregon, back when Franklin’s inability to beat high-ranking opponents was his biggest problem.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
The vinegar used to quick pickle the onions also adds a vinegary pungency to the salad, and dill and basil work together to add fresh and herbaceous notes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pungency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungency
Noun
-
Charlotte struggled to surmount her anger and bitterness toward her once-dear sibling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
-
This tendency, called marcescence, may have developed a few million years ago to discourage large mammals from browsing on trees in winter due to the bitterness of the tannin-rich leaves surrounding buds.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Blue Bay Resort A visit to Belmont Estate provides insights into traditional cacao farming and chocolate production, from bean to bar, while Tri-Island Chocolate connects visitors with local farmers to learn about cocoa, honey and spice cultivation with its Rastafarian Roots-to-Bar experience.—
Taryn White,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Shelves lined with baking ingredients, bolts of fabric, tinware, nails, and jars of penny candy created a patchwork of textures and smells ranging from molasses and leather to spices and tobacco smoke.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Located on the roof of the Hyatt Centric hotel, the bar has curated cocktails, and offers an array of bites from sister restaurant 7th Street Standard on the street level of the hotel, including chicken tandoori lollipops and charred rapini flatbread.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches and mini quiche bites are easy to grab individually and provide substance to the picnic.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2026
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
Noun
-
The stalemate that existed has been broken, and the Republicans now seem likely to obtain a meaningful edge heading into the midterms.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Among the various aspects of the movie that its English title refers to, not least is the unhinged rampage Lina unleashes at a couple of schoolgirls, a gringa loca on the razor’s edge.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The dish had hardly a hint of sweetness at all beyond the butter’s lactic tang.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
Pepper-forward Owensboro Barbecue Sauce is heavy on the spices and tang but light on the prep.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
By adding white grapes to the mix, acidity is boosted while the high alcohol level found in ripe red grapes is diluted.—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
-
Coffee grounds can be used to make hydrangea blooms bluer by increasing soil acidity.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
To make the aji verde, add the cilantro, mint, parsley, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, serrano, honey, sour cream, salt and pepper to a blender.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
-
Top with the lemon juice, lemon zest, and parsley.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pungency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungency. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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