pungent
3
6.5
- adjective
- /ˈpʌn.dʒənt/
- In his book, the author used pungent language to convey the harsh realities of war.
- pungent prose
- pungent editorial letter
- the most pungent
Examples
-
His racy style and pungent vocabulary transformed the stiff theories of British empiricism and made them available to a wider audience.
Academic text (1991) -
The comedian was known for his pungent remarks that often left the audience both laughing and thinking.
-
"They understood, in their pungent, opaque way, that life was romance.
Fiction book (1994) -
This makes her climactic line even more pungent: "I'm not intelligent, just wide awake."
Academic text (1994) -
The best phrase to describe this argument is more pungent than merely to term it "legally incorrect," but that will have to suffice here.
Blog text (7) -
A pungent argument is made—often by African artists themselves—that contemporary art is contemporary art, whether or not it is made in Africa.
Academic text (2005) -
Zinn's declaration is especially pungent when compared to news anchors like CBS's Dan Rather, who told a caller on Larry King Live that he trusts his president and believes in his wisdom and choices.
Academic text (2003) -
Her pungent criticism of the policy sparked a heated debate among the officials present.
Synonyms
85
4.2
Harsh critical words or actions that hurt others
20
6.5
Showing little concern for other people's feelings
12
5.4
Harsh, sharply critical words that hurt people
9
8.4
Full of angry, bitter words in a speech or argument
9
7.4
Being very sharp and unkind in speech or writing
8
8.4
Very harsh and full of hate in speech or writing
8
6.3
Harsh or hurtful in a way that makes someone feel upset
7
8.2
Speech or writing that is harsh and likely to offend people
4
7.0
Said in a sharp, hurtful way to criticize someone
4
8.2
Language that uses clear, strong words to criticize ideas
3
6.7
A sharp, biting remark that hurts or criticizes
2
7.1
Saying harsh words to criticize someone or something
2
6.7
Words said to hurt or criticize someone
2
9.9
Using very angry and insulting words to attack someone
1
8.7
Expressing sharp, often ironic criticism that can feel harsh
1
7.5
A harsh, bitter way of speaking that shows anger or criticism
1
8.9
Quick to say sharp things that hurt
1
7.9
Harsh angry speech or writing that strongly criticizes people
1
7.5
Sharp and unkind in a way that hurts people's feelings
1
9.4
Saying harsh, mean things that hurt people
Very critical and hurtful in speech or writing
Antonyms
Compounds
How Pungent
Surface Forms
Morphology
pungent = pung + ent
Same morphological structure as the sensory sense: derived from a Latinate stem plus '-ent'; the connection between the stem and the metaphorical sense ('biting' remarks) is not transparently recoverable by typical learners.
Etymology
Pungent also comes from the Latin pungere, 'to prick' or 'to sting'. A pungent remark 'pricks' your feelings like a small sting, and the same root is in puncture, so the word means a sharp, biting comment.