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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Recent Examples of poignancy
So there’s a special poignancy—even a measure of consolation—in the arrival of a new work, from another source entirely, that exemplifies the intelligence and the rigor of Wiseman’s methods.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
The next two hours, presented in more dramatic terms, are humane, but not in a way that quite reaches poignancy.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
There's a poignancy to Simon's struggle that feels relatable to anybody stuck in their career or passion pursuits.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Digital copies of about half his earlier works survived and the California African American Museum recognized the poignancy of pairing them.
—Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
The next two hours, presented in more dramatic terms, are humane, but not in a way that quite reaches poignancy.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
There's a poignancy to Simon's struggle that feels relatable to anybody stuck in their career or passion pursuits.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Digital copies of about half his earlier works survived and the California African American Museum recognized the poignancy of pairing them.
—Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignancy
Noun
-
Curiously, there is less bitterness among farmworkers and advocates than there is sadness.—
Marcos Breton,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Each sip ends with some pleasant heat on the back end, a nice, warming finish that lingers for a few minutes, along with some tannic oak that does not go overboard into bitterness.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Worldwide, many antibiotics are starting to lose their bite.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The evening begins with a lively pre-event social hour featuring bites, cocktails and networking.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When looking at the largest metro areas, the fastest growing counties tended to be on the outer edges.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Chiefs have now turned their attention to the secondary waves of free agency while looking ahead to the draft — with top needs at cornerback, edge and offensive tackle, by my estimation.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a particular poignance to Manousos giving this speech — an honest-to-goodness monologue by his standards — at the Darién Gap, amid the detritus of migrants who have shed their belongings to take this path from South to Central America.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
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By contrast, Borghi limns a figure of comingled sensuality, threat and eventual poignance, without ever appearing to reach for effect.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignancy. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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