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
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Recent Examples of poignance
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
The wild-eyed goofy younger Springsteen cracks through, but never lightly, always with poignance.
—Christopher Borrelli, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2023
That means none of the bubble-burst poignance that Bartlett and Natasha Rothwell brought as the servant-victims of getaway decadence.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2022
Transcending expectations is its own expectation, and Midnights makes clear, with modest poignance, that Swift has burned out on her own hype.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for poignance
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
That means none of the bubble-burst poignance that Bartlett and Natasha Rothwell brought as the servant-victims of getaway decadence.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2022
Transcending expectations is its own expectation, and Midnights makes clear, with modest poignance, that Swift has burned out on her own hype.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for poignance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignance
Noun
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Chocolate’s distinctive taste begins with cocoa beans, harvested from trees and fermented right on the cocoa farm to develop their aroma and reduce bitterness.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
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For the signature bitterness, instead of the classic Campari, Taylor used the deeper Averna—where Campari’s orange bitterness is bright and juicy, Averna’s orange bitterness is a lower hum, like a flourless chocolate cake.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When the shark measuring about 10 feet didn’t fit through the door, Mucerino and Burress got a bite of inspiration.—
Amanda Hancock,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
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In their study published today in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the team describes the differences between bite tactics in these different types of snakes.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Well, let’s get a little personal then – In terms of personal poignancy, what is Sundance, what is Bob Redford’s legacy for you?—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
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Frank’s background adds poignancy to the case’s outcome.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the deciding third round, Jandiroba had the edge early on the feet but allowed Dern to land some harder shots late.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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KAConsulting shows a three-point lead (47–44), Quantus Insights finds a two-point edge (48–46), and Trafalgar Group/Insider Advantage reports just a one-point gap (45–44).—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poignance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignance. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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