POIGNANCE Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

poignance

noun

ˈpȯi-nyən(t)s

Definition of poignance

as in bitterness

a harsh or sharp quality there's a mean-spirited poignance to the novel's satiric portrait of Hollywood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of poignance That milestone might have held a particular poignance for Branch Rickey. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jan. 2025 Babe Ruth and other Yankee teammates appear in the film, thus adding to its authenticity and poignance. — Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024 Horowitz’s operation embodied both the allure and the poignance of the trade. — Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 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, 9 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for poignance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignance

Noun

Little united the Syrian rebels during the country’s civil war from 2011 to 2024 outside of their hatred of Assad, and Damascus has sought to cultivate this memory of bitterness to keep the country’s disparate groups together.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
The tea supplies tannins and bitterness while maple and orange recreate that familiar balance of sweet, bitter and citrus.

— Ryan Brennan August 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitterness

Noun

Every bite reflects Georgia’s crossroads of cultures, blending East and West into something uniquely delicious.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 105 shark-human interactions and just 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025.

— Mason Leib, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of bite

Noun

But because Kore-eda’s subpar script is short on emotional depth, the director leans on Bandoh to sell a poignancy the audience isn’t feeling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
The enchanting woodsy and pastoral backgrounds when the action moves from the residential suburbs to the rural outskirts add to that poignancy, as do the dulcet tones of Randy Newman’s score.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

Definition of poignancy

Noun

The scientists used cutting-edge airborne laser scanning technology and found hundreds of previously unknown earthworks.

— Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
The edges of your lawn and garden provide the perfect habitat for these plants, while fences and retaining walls can give support to growing poison ivy vines.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of edge

Browse Nearby Words

pogroms

poignance

poignancy

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Style

“Poignance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignance. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of poignance

noun

Example Sentences

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