poignant

American  

[poin-yuhnt, poi-nuhnt] / ˈpɔɪn yənt, ˈpɔɪ nənt /

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

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poignant British  

/ -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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of poignant

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

Example Sentences

Among the 30,000 people attending the poignant ceremony, known as the Way of the Cross, was Sarah, a Palestinian Catholic.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

He wasn’t ready for Catherine O’Hara to go, nor Rob Reiner, who bade Idle a poignant farewell at a recent L.A. party.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

As metafiction goes, it could hardly be more poignant, though poignancy is not the author’s style.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

For families who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss, it can feel like a particularly poignant day.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

It was a personally poignant and politically fateful decision.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

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