1. wit having a sharp and caustic quality - he commented with typical pungency - the bite of satire • Syn: bite • Derivationally related forms: pungent • Hypernyms: wit, humor, humour, witticism, wittiness 2. a strong odor or taste property - the pungency of mustard - the sulfurous bite of garlic - the sharpness of strange spices - the raciness of the wine • Syn: bite, sharpness, raciness • Derivationally related forms: racy (for: raciness), pungent • Hypernyms: spiciness, spice, spicery