/ ˈpʌndʒənt; NAmE / adjective
1.
having a strong taste or smell :
the pungent smell of burning rubber
➡ note at bitter
2.
direct and having a strong effect :
pungent criticism
► pun·gency / -nsi; NAmE / noun [ U ]
► pung·ent·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense very painful or distressing ): from Latin pungent- pricking, from the verb pungere .