poignant

adjective

poi·​gnant ˈpȯi-nyənt 

 sometimes  ˈpȯi(g)-nənt

1

a(1)

: painfully affecting the feelings : piercing

(2)

: deeply affecting : touching

b

: designed to make an impression : cutting

poignant satire

2

a

: pleasurably stimulating

b

: being to the point : apt

3

: pungently pervasive

a poignant perfume

poignantly adverb

Did you know?

Poignant comes to English from French, and before that from Latin—specifically, the Latin verb pungere, meaning "to prick or sting." Several other common English words derive from pungere, including pungent, which can refer to, among other things, a sharp odor. The influence of pungere can also be seen in puncture, as well as punctual, which originally meant simply "of or relating to a point." Even compunction and expunge come from this pointedly relevant Latin word.

Synonyms

• affecting
• emotional
• impactful
• impressive
• moving
• stirring
• touching

Choose the Right Synonym for poignant

pungent, piquant, poignant, racy mean sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses.

pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion.

moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of poignant in a Sentence

… this movie isn't a soft-pedaled, poignant tale of addiction and recovery—it's just about the addiction. —David Crowley, Vibe, June 2001

In a poignant attempt to split the difference between the two camps, Justices Breyer and David Souter tried to prevent the Court from destroying itself. —Jeffrey Rosen, New Republic, 25 Dec. 2000

I've witnessed the poignant efforts of young whites striving to conform to the vague tenets of the mainstream, taking crushingly dull jobs, settling down with the least challenging of spouses … —Jake Lamar, UTNE Reader, May/June 1992

… a new and sharper and most poignant sense of loss for that broken musical instrument which had once been my leg. —Oliver Sacks, A Leg to Stand On, 1984

The photograph was a poignant reminder of her childhood.

a poignant story of a love affair that ends in tragedy

Recent Examples on the Web

Matt Waldron’s answer to the fourth-grader was particularly poignant. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025

Its snappy, postmodern unfurling, rife with intentionally obvious rear projections, does eventually give way to moving dimensions as the family’s history fades into view, but few political or personal elements amount to anything poignant. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025

Especially poignant is a closing scene set at Israel’s Holocaust museum Yad Vashem, in which the film attempts to draw a link between the walls erected around the Warsaw Ghetto and those dividing Gaza from neighboring Israel. —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025

But after a third season that saw Billy (Gil Bellows) strut around with a coterie of women from a Robert Palmer video before dropping dead of a brain tumor, this outing is remarkably grounded, poignant…and sad. —EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English poynaunt, from Anglo-French poinant, poignant, present participle of poindre to prick, sting, from Latin pungere — more at pungent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

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Kids Definition

poignant

adjective

poi·​gnant ˈpȯi-nyənt 

1

: painfully affecting the feelings : sharp, piercing

poignant grief

2

: deeply affecting : touching

poignantly adverb