pungent
/ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/ adjective C2- Having a strong odor that stings the nose; said especially of acidic or spicy substances. · I accidentally dropped the bottle of ammonia and after few seconds, a very pungent stench could be detected.
- Having a strong taste that stings the tongue; said especially of hot (spicy) food, which has a strong and sharp or bitter taste.
- Stinging; acerbic. · The critic gave a pungent review.
- Having a sharp and stiff point.
From the library
Andrea, indeed, inhaled the scent of something cooking which was not unwelcome to him, hungry as he was; it was that mixture of fat and garlic peculiar to Provençal kitchens of an inferior order, added to that of dried fish, and above all, the pungent smell of musk and cloves.
Critics frequently complain about the distinctively pungent odor foxes leave behind to mark their territories, which can linger for days.
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