pungency
1
7.0
- noun
- /ˈpʌn.dʒən.si/
:
picante
- He could not escape the pungency of the garlic as it filled the kitchen during dinner preparation.
Examples
-
It adds richness to tortilla soup and pungency to roasted south-of-the-border chicken.
Blog text (25) -
The woods were deep and heavy with the moist pungency of conifers and loam.
Fiction book (1992) -
Its pungency burned his eyes.
Fiction book (1996) -
It's quite fresh, which explains the pungency.
Fiction book (2002) -
And this garlic's lost its pungency.
-
The medicinal pungency of the eucalyptus trees was the only aroma that I could detect.
Fiction book (1998) -
Beginning your day with shellfish and seaweed may not sound appetizing, but if you can get past the pungency of taste and the off-putting gritty texture, this is a breakfast that will keep you going until dinner, especially if you complement it with bacon and eggs.
Blog text (34) -
The chef emphasized the importance of balancing flavors, as too much pungency can overwhelm the dish.
-
The pungency of the fresh spices was evident as soon as she opened the jar.
Synonyms
34
5.3
A sharp, strong quality in taste or smell
1
3.3
A strong sharp smell that makes your eyes water
1
2.9
A strong, biting taste or smell that stings the nose
1
4.2
A sharp, pleasantly sour taste like lemon, often with a little spice
A strong, sharp taste or smell that can be unpleasant for some people
A strong, bitter smell or taste that burns the nose
A strong sharp taste or smell that feels unpleasant
A strong, sharp taste or smell that is easy to notice
Antonyms
How Pungent
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Pungency comes from the Latin verb pungere, which means 'to prick' or 'to sting', and you can see the same root in pungent and puncture. So a strong smell or taste feels like a small 'prick' to your nose or tongue, which is why we call that sharp quality 'pungency'.