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Pungent vs Smelly - What's the difference?

pungent | smelly |

As adjectives the difference between pungent and smelly

is that pungent is having a strong odor that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances while smelly is having a bad smell.

pungent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having a strong odor that stings the nose, said especially of acidic or spicy substances.
    • The lasagne included plenty of pungent garlic.
  • * 1991 , , Concrete: American Christmas , Dark Horse Books
    • I can almost smell the fir scent… resinous, pungent .
  • 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.

    • Derived terms

    * pungence * pungently

    smelly

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a bad smell.
    • She was hesitant to remove her shoes, as her socks were rather smelly .
  • (figuratively) having a quality that arouses suspicion.
    • The detective read the documents and thought, "Something sure is smelly about this case".
  • (figuratively, computing, slang, in extreme programming) Of inferior quality.
    • That smelly code needs to be refactored.

    Synonyms

    * (having a bad smell ): fetid, foul-smelling, malodorous, rank, stinky (slang), whiffy (slang); see also * (having a quality that arouses suspicion ): dodgy (informal), doubtful, dubious, suspect, suspicious * (computing: of inferior quality ):

    Antonyms

    * (having a bad smell ): aromatic, fragrant, sweet-smelling * (having a quality that arouses suspicion ): above board, clean * (computing: of inferior quality ):