poignant

[poin-yuhnt, poi-nuhnt]

adjective

1. keenly distressing to the feelings.

   poignant regret.

   Synonyms: heartfelt, sincere, intense
   Antonyms: mild

2. keen or strong in mental appeal.

   a subject of poignant interest.

   Antonyms: mild

3. affecting or moving the emotions.

   a poignant scene.

4. pungent to the smell.

   poignant cooking odors.

   Synonyms: sharp, piquant

poignant

/ -nənt, ˈpɔɪnjənt /

adjective

1. sharply distressing or painful to the feelings

2. to the point; cutting or piercing

   poignant wit

3. keen or pertinent in mental appeal

   a poignant subject

4. pungent in smell

Other Word Forms

• poignantly adverb
• unpoignant adjective
• unpoignantly adverb
• poignancy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of poignant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English poynaunt, from Middle French poignant, literally, “stinging,” present participle of poindre “to appear, emerge,” earlier “to prick, sting,” from Latin pungere; pungent

Word History and Origins

Origin of poignant¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin pungens pricking, from pungere to sting, pierce, grieve

Example Sentences

A poignant return to action for the Cowboys at the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas saw both teams remember Kneeland with a moment of silence before kick-off.

Read more on Barron's

This is what makes the film so poignant and heartfelt.

Read more on Salon

What was very poignant about the timing of this programming was that it was when the ICE raids really started to pick up.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a poignant moment in the film, Eubank Jr tells his father he will soon be a grandfather to twin boys.

Read more on BBC

The number, a duet for Victoria and Jonquil, doesn’t make importunate emotional demands and is all the more poignant for its restraint.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bitter 
• disturbing 
• emotional 
• heartbreaking 
• heartrending 
• moving 
• passionate 
• pathetic 
• sad 
• sentimental 
• touching