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
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
There’s a certain poignancy in that.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 6 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
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
There’s a certain poignancy in that.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 6 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
-
But Deborah’s bitterness is eclipsing everything.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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The bitterness mellows beautifully and clings to pasta like it was meant to.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The third Ember Group restaurant, scheduled to open June 1, is Imoto, another small plate spot that specializes in sushi and other Asian bites.—
Connie Ogle
Updated May 8,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
-
This free Saturday series offers full-service food and drink, with beer, cider, cocktails and local bites on site.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship moored off the western coast of Africa is gripping a world primed by recent painful experience to be on edge for the next Covid-19-like event.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
7 May 2026
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But there’s a significant difference in setting the edge on the college level and doing it in the NFL, where the offensive tackles and tight ends are usually bigger and stronger.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
7 May 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 11 May. 2026.
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