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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pungency
Not long ago, the residents of Gowanus, in Brooklyn, began to notice that the smell of their canal, known for its unpleasant odor since the Gilded Age, had reached a new level of pungency.
—
Jake Offenhartz, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
Rich, intense, and kissed with the signature pungency of blue cheese, there is nothing quite like a cut of dry-aged beef.
—Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 30 July 2024
The bread’s soft, moist textures contrast with the tiny crunches of cacao nibs, ending with perfect pungency from black cardamom.
—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
See all Example Sentences for pungency 
Jake Offenhartz, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
Rich, intense, and kissed with the signature pungency of blue cheese, there is nothing quite like a cut of dry-aged beef.
—Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 30 July 2024
The bread’s soft, moist textures contrast with the tiny crunches of cacao nibs, ending with perfect pungency from black cardamom.
—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
See all Example Sentences for pungency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pungency
Noun
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Aaron's recipe features applesauce and diced apples for a double dose of apple flavor, as well as warm spices, Greek yogurt and brown sugar.—
Kelly Brant,
arkansasonline.com,
21 Jan. 2025
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The palate is smooth, with spice, caramel, and citrus flavors.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she’s been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California.—
Marcio Jose Sanchez,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2025
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The port and button layout is the same as before, with a volume toggle on the right edge and a power button below it.—
Iyaz Akhtar,
PCMAG,
22 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
-
The estate is only three miles from False Bay, which influences a cooling effect with winds counterbalancing hot summers, allowing for a longer growing season, enabling grapes to find an ideal balance between fruit ripeness, plenty of acidity and ripe tannins – creating a silky texture.—
Cathrine Todd,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
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The resulting vinegar is then often diluted with water to create a final product with a standard 5% acidity.—
Annie Peterson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Sprinkle 1½ teaspoons of the orange zest and ¼ teaspoon of the brown sugar on top of each half.—
Joe Yonan,
Saveur,
23 Jan. 2025
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The palate opens to notes of fresh apple, lemon zest, and a hint of minerality.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes,
22 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 30 Jan. 2025.
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