poignant

adjective

ˈpȯi-nyənt How to pronounce poignant (audio)
Definition of poignantnext
1
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies a poignant story of a love affair that ends in tragedy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spicy
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses a poignant truthfulness to the author's observations on marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word poignant distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of poignant are affecting, impressive, moving, pathetic, and touching. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

How do affecting and moving relate to one another, in the sense of poignant?

Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

When can impressive be used instead of poignant?

In some situations, the words impressive and poignant are roughly equivalent. However, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

In what contexts can moving take the place of poignant?

Although the words moving and poignant have much in common, moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

When might pathetic be a better fit than poignant?

The words pathetic and poignant can be used in similar contexts, but pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

When is touching a more appropriate choice than poignant?

While in some cases nearly identical to poignant, touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poignant All of which would make Leo’s visit to Lourdes all the more poignant. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Of all the belongings Goyal has collected, Indian and otherwise, a suite of textile paintings from his grandfather offer the most poignant narrative. — Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026 Her most poignant work centers around the female nomadic warriors. — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026 This is especially poignant because capital projects have a reputation for being difficult to automate. — Balaji Sreenivasan, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignant
  1. emotional
  2. spicy
  3. impressive
  4. piquant
  5. delicious
  6. pungent
  7. exciting
  8. fascinating
Adjective
  • The history between these men is more noxious than your garden-variety case of paternal neglect — there’s been emotional and physical abuse.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to your home to find charred remains after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of emotional
Adjective
  • The restaurant also makes its own salsas, including roja, verde and a spicier green variety.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The property collaborated with Nobu and the food is clean and delicious—unsurprisingly, lots of raw fish and produce like spicy microgreens and August-sweet tomatoes grown at Sensei’s hydroponic farm down the road.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of spicy
Adjective
  • Reid was truly impressive in all facets and a guy Hornets fans are really going to like.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The character creator is impressive, too, with a huge number of unlockable outfits and accessories, as well as classic alien races from the movies and cartoons.
    — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of impressive
Adjective
  • Sipping on the watermelon, calamansi, ginger agua fresca was just the right pairing with my boldly piquant dinner.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Placebo, loukoumi, kouglof, toda raba, Sharapova, tempura, cacao, platypus, shrub, castagnette, potato salada, potage piquant pékinois.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of piquant
Adjective
  • This recipe for double crust apple pie delivers a mix of tart and sweet along with cinnamon that is crispy, delicious and is worth the indulgence.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Refrigerated tortellini is one of the fastest ways to turn plain broth into a satiating, delicious meal.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of delicious
Adjective
  • The script is full of pungent, funny debates about power, with observations that still land.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The garlic added a pungent heat, and the tahina a nutty savoriness.
    — Cooking Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of pungent
Adjective
  • Perhaps less exciting is the fact her failures are more than just the flawed Edison machine.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The radio series takes in interviews with academic hormone specialists, including the team at Imperial College in London who are conducting some of the most exciting and innovative research in this area.
    — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of exciting
Adjective
  • But one of the really fascinating wrinkles to this Black artist’s career was when during the BLM protests, one of his images went viral.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Visitors can bike, hike, swim in the park’s seasonal pool, and get to know some of the fascinating local history, all across about three square miles.
    — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of fascinating

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poignancy
poignant
poignantly
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Cite this Entry

“Poignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignant. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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