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
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poignant
Middleton later donned the heirloom earrings on her 14th Remembrance Sunday since marrying Prince William in a poignant tribute to her late mother-in-law.
—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
The most poignant moment came later in the day when the client visited George Michael’s final resting place.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 June 2026
McKendrick was worried that bringing a dead character back on screen for the poignant ending could potentially come off as strange.
—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
The sight of the lectern being carried out onto Downing Street, followed by the short, poignant farewell address, has taken on a ritual familiarity, with each departure colored by particular dismay.
—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignant
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
The most poignant moment came later in the day when the client visited George Michael’s final resting place.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 June 2026
McKendrick was worried that bringing a dead character back on screen for the poignant ending could potentially come off as strange.
—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
The sight of the lectern being carried out onto Downing Street, followed by the short, poignant farewell address, has taken on a ritual familiarity, with each departure colored by particular dismay.
—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignant
Adjective
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Contreras, meanwhile, entered Tuesday's game after an emotional stretch.
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Humanitarian workers say the emotional toll is becoming increasingly visible inside temporary shelters.
Adjective
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Just toss the wedges with some oil, and season with the spicy salt.
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Yassine Bounou had to deal with a couple of spicy crosses and made one really good save to smother a Tani Oluwaseyi chance.
Adjective
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Rooms frame garden and water views through floor-to-ceiling windows, with wraparound balconies in Sea Suites facing Istanbul’s impressive skyline.
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So, even more impressive to me is the way these grills can hold hot flames stable.
Adjective
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When prepared with skill, shrimp can be tender and sweet, perfect for dipping in tangy, piquant cocktail sauce.
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The piquant dish is lacquered with strawberry-guajillo barbecue sauce, while a punchy coleslaw with Fresno chile vinaigrette rounds things out.
Adjective
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Whip up a big batch of this delicious chicken salad to have ready to go all week.
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That includes delicious deals across lots of furniture and home decor, including bedroom pieces, outdoor gems, and ceramics to uplift any area of your home.
Adjective
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The club is located in Lancaster County, surrounded by chicken and dairy farms that give off a pungent odor of fermenting feed and manure.
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Italian sauvignon blanc offers an alterative that is typically subtler, more textured and less dependent on those pungent aromatics.
Adjective
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The result is a chain of polite, yet simultaneously radical buildings with an exciting contour resembling a mountainous landscape – adding ‘bergen’ in De Bergen!
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The modern building is an exciting addition to the Fort Worth Cultural District and people are situated in backs around the lobby.
Adjective
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The World Cup offers us a fascinating glimpse at the complexities of national pride and identity.
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Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.
Cite this Entry
“Poignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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