What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Odor vs Pungence - What's the difference?

odor | pungence |

As nouns the difference between odor and pungence

is that odor is any smell, whether fragrant or offensive; scent; perfume while pungence is the quality of odor/odour that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances.

odor

English

(wikipedia odor)

Alternative forms

* odour

Noun

  • Any smell, whether fragrant or offensive; scent; perfume.
  • * 1895 , H. G. Wells, The Time Machine Chapter X
  • Now, I still think that for this box of matches to have escaped the wear of time for immemorial years was a strange, and for me, a most fortunate thing. Yet oddly enough I found here a far more unlikely substance, and that was camphor. I found it in a sealed jar, that, by chance, I supposed had been really hermetically sealed. I fancied at first the stuff was paraffin wax, and smashed the jar accordingly. But the odour of camphor was unmistakable.
  • (figuratively) A strong, pervasive quality.
  • Esteem; repute.
  • Usage notes

    In the United States, the term "odor" often has a negative connotation. Preferred terms for a pleasant odor are "fragrance", "scent", or "aroma".

    Synonyms

    * (any smell) perfume, scent * (esteem) esteem, repute * See also

    Derived terms

    * odorous * odorously * odorousness

    Anagrams

    * ----

    pungence

    English

    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.

    Synonyms

    * pungency