as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
there's a mean-spirited poignance to the novel's satiric portrait of Hollywood
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Recent Examples of poignance
In this book, however, her collages produce not surprise or poignance but a sense of cutting and pasting, of breathless summary.
—
Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 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
In the song’s intro, processional drums and a trembling guitar line promised a power ballad with all the poignance of a Steven Spielberg movie.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for poignance
Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 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
In the song’s intro, processional drums and a trembling guitar line promised a power ballad with all the poignance of a Steven Spielberg movie.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for poignance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignance
Noun
-
Try a piece of kielbasa, known for its earthy and slightly sweet flavor with a prominence of garlic, or a bite of mild and milky farmer’s cheese, which will leave taste buds tangy.—
Olivia Lee,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
-
Nick offered a brief izakaya definition for readers who aren’t familiar: An izakaya is Japan’s version of an English pub, with drinks, small bites and a social vibe.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Audiences have responded rapturously to the film, moved by the intimacy of the storytelling and its surprising balance of poignancy and humor.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 June 2025
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The immediacy of these relations and connections contributes warmth and poignancy, but not necessarily deep insight into the man that Kaufman actually became.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
It’s built to last, thanks to a thick resin material that won’t rust, peel, or dent, and boasts a contemporary style with clean lines and smooth edges that’s easy to match other outdoor furniture and decor.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
27 June 2025
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Like Squid Game, The Prisoner beguiles the viewer by turning traditional symbols of familiar, homegrown calm (in this case, an idyllic seaside town) into disorientating weapons that keep the characters on a knife's edge.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poignance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignance. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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