Today's Parola del giorno1 is the adjective, pungente, which can mean the following depending on the context:

• bitter

• prickly

• stinging

You can see the adjective used in its various contexts, both figurative and literal, below:

Stai lontano dai cactus! I suoi aghi pungenti provocano molto dolore!
Stay away from the cactus! It's prickly needles cause a lot of pain!

Eravamo sopra alla montagna e un freddo pungente ci penetrava nelle ossa.
We were in the mountains and a bitter cold was penetrating our bones.

La satira pungente di Daniele Luttazzi è malvista dai politici sia di destra che di sinistra.
The stinging satire of Daniele Luttazzi is disliked by politicians of the right more than the left.