pungence

P3U1N1G2E1N1C3E1

noun

The quality of odor/odour that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances.

“The pungence of the garlic made my eyes water.”

Similar
pungency
OriginLatin pungēns →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounpungence (usually uncountable, plural pungences)

plural pungences

  1. uncountableusuallyThe quality of odor/odour that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances.

    The pungence of the garlic made my eyes water.

    Synonyms: pungency

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe quality of odor/odour that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances.

Similar
pungency
Also see
pungency

Origin

  1. Latinpungēns
  2. Englishpungence

From Latin pungēns, present participle of pungō (“to sting”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Māori kanekanetanga
  • kanekanetangaThe quality of an odour which clings to the nose
Polish ostrość
  • ostrośćThe quality of an odour which clings to the nose
Cite this entry
APA

pungence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pungence

MLA

“pungence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pungence. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pungence,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pungence.

Source: pungence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.