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
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
No playwright can duplicate the poignancy of that.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
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
No playwright can duplicate the poignancy of that.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignancy
Noun
-
Bram, his husband, has a demanding job at a museum in Rotterdam and Arnold’s bitterness has grown wearying.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
Find out how to beat boredom and bitterness while holding onto your job, with tips on how to build your next chapter, from career coach Cynthia Young.—
Courtney Connley-Hampton,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
This can occur with or without skin markings, which may be mistaken for seemingly benign culprits like bug bites or an allergic reaction.—
Alyssa Sparacino,
Glamour,
29 May 2026
-
Guests celebrating Giant included American Vogue Editor Chloe Malle as well as theater producers Tom Kirhady, Lucas McMahon, and Greg Nobile, who sipped on wine and champagne and dined on light bites whilst mingling and talking Tony prospects.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The union has argued that the language — coupled with an arbitration provision — will limit the use of AI replicas to a handful of edge cases.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
5 June 2026
-
As the resort’s premium hotel-within-a-hotel experience, Hōkūpa‘a Tower guests will not only find larger indoor and outdoor room layouts, but will also gain access to The Lānai, a private lounge-style space with complimentary food and drinks, a private bar, and infinity-edge cocktail pools.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The literature created by AI is dull and devoid of any real poignance.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignancy. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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