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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poignancy
There’s a grandfather quality to Kani’s Sam, but the increase in years has only deepened the play’s poignancy.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
The timing of the words added poignancy to the messages.
—
John Odenthal,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
But the scene’s real poignancy will come from their sudden realization of how completely wrong their assumptions have been about the public’s attitude towards their products.
—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Preston is a fun, engaging storyteller whose work balances humor and poignancy.
—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
The timing of the words added poignancy to the messages.
—
John Odenthal,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
But the scene’s real poignancy will come from their sudden realization of how completely wrong their assumptions have been about the public’s attitude towards their products.
—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Preston is a fun, engaging storyteller whose work balances humor and poignancy.
—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignancy
Noun
-
And after spending most of Sunday as the guy the crowd didn’t want to see close the deal, Clark didn’t respond with bitterness.
-
Crisp and refreshing, the drink’s grapefruit bitterness was softened by carbonation, giving Mexico’s national cocktail a lively upgrade.
Noun
-
That first bite delivers the crispy outside with a soft chew of rice, followed by the hot dog.
-
Opening to the public June 29, Level 99 also serves a full menu of bites, cocktails and beers and features the work of 23 visual artists from across the world.
Noun
-
The Americans came out energized in the second half and a Berhalter banger from the edge of the penalty area tied it up 2-2 in the 49th minute.
-
The Samurai Blue have the edge on shots, 2-1, but Sweden has the lone shot on target so far through 25 minutes.
Noun
-
Tharmarajah provides a great balance of comic relief and utter poignance, explaining his survival techniques as an orphan, carving out a pragmatic path in life leading to a particular kind of soaring.
-
The literature created by AI is dull and devoid of any real poignance.
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignancy. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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