as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of poignancy in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Perceiving the loneliness that colors the story and being aware of Mishima’s awful demise four years later, how can the reader fail to be moved by a poignancy that transcends the text!
—
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
The framing device infuses even the most prosaic moments with poignancy, and the film’s emotional impact is made greater by the knowledge that it was based on a true story.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024
With war spreading in the Middle East and conflicts ongoing elsewhere around the world, the poignancy of programming in this area has been amplified this year.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2024
First, of course, is Lauter’s devotion not only to vivid color but to a kind of chromatic alchemy that relies on strategic juxtapositions and strange affinities to invest her compositions with power and poignancy.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poignancy 
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
The framing device infuses even the most prosaic moments with poignancy, and the film’s emotional impact is made greater by the knowledge that it was based on a true story.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024
With war spreading in the Middle East and conflicts ongoing elsewhere around the world, the poignancy of programming in this area has been amplified this year.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2024
First, of course, is Lauter’s devotion not only to vivid color but to a kind of chromatic alchemy that relies on strategic juxtapositions and strange affinities to invest her compositions with power and poignancy.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poignancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignancy
Noun
-
The goal is to achieve a juicy look, characterized by an imprecise and slightly smudged application, reminiscent of the resulting lip tint after taking a bite of fruit.Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Light bites accompany the tasting, enhancing the experience.Shivani Vora, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
In the entry, a translucent red high-polished resin mirror called Jelly is paired with a cream formica console with a walnut edge that Renz crafted himself.Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2024
-
Use a sharp knife to slice off any uneven edges, and cut into 2-inch squares.Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
This reader, with at least 50 years more in corporeal form than Ching, could not help but rapidly identify with her wisdom and experience the poignance of her story.BostonGlobe.com, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2023
-
The wild-eyed goofy younger Springsteen cracks through, but never lightly, always with poignance.Christopher Borrelli, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near poignancy
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignancy. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share