1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
the pungency of the vinegar gives the salad dressing the kick that it needs
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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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Recent Examples of pungency
The bread’s soft, moist textures contrast with the tiny crunches of cacao nibs, ending with perfect pungency from black cardamom.
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Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 4 June 2024
Leaving the pulp and skin in place give black peppercorns their pungency as opposed to white pepper, whose surrounding pulp and skins have been removed, imparting a milder flavor to this spice.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Apr. 2024
Shallot: Offers allium punch, Black pepper: Brings bright pungency and a bit of heat.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Extra Limey Guacamole This guacamole packs a punch of zesty lime that not only eases the pungency of the raw red onions but also keeps the dip bright green well after half-time ... if there is any left.
—Sarah Mosqueda, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pungency 
Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 4 June 2024
Leaving the pulp and skin in place give black peppercorns their pungency as opposed to white pepper, whose surrounding pulp and skins have been removed, imparting a milder flavor to this spice.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Apr. 2024
Shallot: Offers allium punch, Black pepper: Brings bright pungency and a bit of heat.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Extra Limey Guacamole This guacamole packs a punch of zesty lime that not only eases the pungency of the raw red onions but also keeps the dip bright green well after half-time ... if there is any left.
—Sarah Mosqueda, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pungency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungency
Noun
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Prep and measure all your spices and set them aside.Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2025
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This air sign is all about celebrating your one-of-a-kind spice while finding power with your people.Colin Bedell, Them, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Customers can get their first bites of the new steak garlic nacho fries Thursday, Jan. 16, at participating Taco Bell restaurants nationwide, according to the fast-food chain.Tanasia Kenney, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025
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The impact of the former could be more bark than bite, given that the U.S. has significantly reduced its dependence on Chinese imports over the past decade.Wes Moss, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The key to its flavor is a balance of sweet, spice, piquancy and heat, which creates a balanced and addictive bite.Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 17 June 2024
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While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug.Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
Noun
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Now more people live at the flammable edges of wildlands, making places that are primed to burn into de facto suburbs.Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Security protocols embedded within each network node allow for immediate threat identification and isolation, while machine learning algorithms at the edge continuously monitor and adapt to new threats.Rafael Umann, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The tang of Zing Zang transports me to the crowded confines of my grandmother’s wet bar, where the adults mixed batches of Bloody Mary’s as family slowly trickled in on Christmas Day.Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
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Flavor Red velvet offers a nuanced, luxurious flavor profile that entails sweet notes of vanilla balanced by a pleasant tang from the buttermilk and vinegar, all rounded out with a muted hint of cocoa.Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2024
Noun
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These wines are generally dry with vibrant acidity.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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The two are not interchangeable, especially in baking where the acidity of buttermilk (which heavy cream lacks) contributes to the rise and flavor of baked goods.Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The finish is long and sweet, with lingering herbal, earthy, orange zest and mild pepper notes.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
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More international fare Whole Foods expects more snacks and packaging to come with a foreign zest, such as mango sticky rice chips, plantain tostones and chile-crunch edamame oil and nut mixes.Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Eternal Father Ömer Sami trained a camera on a cable technician in northern England and let the poignancy fly.Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2025
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Passion, poignancy, ecstasy, agony and a Tic Tac ad Best game Everton 2-0 Liverpool, of course.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near pungency
Cite this Entry
“Pungency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pungency. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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