PUNGENT

barbed, biting, nipping, pungent, mordacious

(adjective) capable of wounding; “a barbed compliment”; “a biting aphorism”; “pungent satire”

pungent, acrid

(adjective) strong and sharp; “the pungent taste of radishes”; “the acrid smell of burning rubber”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

pungent (comparative more pungent, superlative most pungent)

Having a strong odor that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances.

Having a strong taste that stings the tongue, said especially of hot (spicy) food, which has a strong and sharp or bitter taste.

(figurative) Stinging; acerbic.

(botany) Having a sharp and stiff point.

Source: Wiktionary


Pun"gent, a. Etym: [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. Pungent radish biting infant's tongue. Shenstone. The pungent grains of titillating dust. Pope.

2. Sharply painful; penetrating; poignant; severe; caustic; stinging. With pungent pains on every side. Swift. His pungent pen played its part in rousing the nation. J. R. Green.

3. (Bot.)

Definition: Prickly-pointed; hard and sharp.

Syn.

– Acrid; piercing; sharp; penetrating; acute; keen; acrimonious; biting; stinging.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

24 February 2025

ANOMALY

(noun) (astronomy) position of a planet as defined by its angular distance from its perihelion (as observed from the sun)


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest coffee press is 230 cm (7 ft 6 in) in height and 72 cm (2 ft 4 in) in diameter and was created by Salzillo Tea and Coffee (Spain) in Murcia, Spain, in February 2007. The cafetière consists of a stainless steel container, a filtering piston, and a superior lid.

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