poignancy
noun
poi·gnan·cy
ˈpȯi-nyən(t)-sē 
sometimes ˈpȯi(g)-nən(t)-sē
plural poignancies
1
: the quality or state of being poignant
2
: an instance of poignancy
Examples of poignancy in a Sentence
there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting
Recent Examples on the Web
The land there glows with poignancy about this time, when the old year is not quite dead and the new one not quite ready.
—
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Still, there’s a bittersweet poignancy to the 100th Oscars also being the last traditional broadcast, a swan song for the long-ago time when the ceremony occupied the very center of popular culture.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
So is there some sort of poignancy in making this latest film?
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2025
The question underlines the poignancy of the current show.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
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Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Still, there’s a bittersweet poignancy to the 100th Oscars also being the last traditional broadcast, a swan song for the long-ago time when the ceremony occupied the very center of popular culture.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
So is there some sort of poignancy in making this latest film?
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2025
The question underlines the poignancy of the current show.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poignancy. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poignancy
noun
poi·gnan·cy
ˈpȯi-nyən-sē
: the quality or state of being poignant
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