as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting
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Recent Examples of poignancy
Bits were acute — the repeat of the first-movement exposition returned to the material with a ghostlier sheen — but full movements lacked through-lines of energy, focus and poignancy; the climaxes didn’t feel earned.
—
Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
In fact, though several have extraordinary voices, notably Ingram, the movie seems to be banking more on the poignancy of someone trying to push past their range.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
The point is, the hearing aid ups the poignancy meter exponentially.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
Kushner paints a holistic picture, teasing out details of the fraught relationship between Eric and his father Paul, which adds extra poignancy to events.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poignancy 
Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
In fact, though several have extraordinary voices, notably Ingram, the movie seems to be banking more on the poignancy of someone trying to push past their range.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
The point is, the hearing aid ups the poignancy meter exponentially.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
Kushner paints a holistic picture, teasing out details of the fraught relationship between Eric and his father Paul, which adds extra poignancy to events.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for poignancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignancy
Noun
-
The upstairs seating area is more casual, a spot to have a bite and a drink or perhaps enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine before your table is ready, with balcony seating that overlooks busy Las Olas Boulevard.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
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The adjacent towns of Glacier and Deming feel less like tourist hubs and more like actual towns—with savory bites at Gunners Tex Mex BBQ and North Fork Brewery, and plenty of character-rich Airbnb and Vrbo listings.—
Miles Howard,
AFAR Media,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There was a pervasive sense of indignation from current and former European officials, who have funneled significant aid to Ukraine and are deeply worried about how a ceasefire deal could impact the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) eastern edge.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The Pirates got to almost every loose ball and played with an edge that was nowhere to be found for the Huskies.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2025
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 22 Feb. 2025.
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