Synonyms of poignancy

poignancy

noun

ˈpȯi-nyən(t)-sē 

as in bitterness

a harsh or sharp quality

there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bitterness
• bite
• edge
• poignance
• acidity
• acerbity
• pungency
• harshness
• severity
• acuteness
• roughness
• spice
• sharpness
• acrimony
• tartness
• acridity
• asperity
• keenness
• punch
• tang
• acridness
• acidness
• acrimoniousness
• severeness
• shrillness
• ginger
• virulence
• vitriol
• pointedness
• raucousness
• maliciousness
• thorniness
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softness
• gentleness
• mildness
• kindliness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of poignancy

Instead, that generation’s gesture seems to be stymied or to miss its target and end in bitterness—which is precisely what gives these artists’ work at its best a poignancy on the other side of its aggression and humor. — Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Lewie Coyle is now ready to make his Premier League debut after working his way up English football’s ladder, but there is a poignancy to the story after father Chris, a market trader in their home city, died in 2022. — Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

But because Kore-eda’s subpar script is short on emotional depth, the director leans on Bandoh to sell a poignancy the audience isn’t feeling. — Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

The enchanting woodsy and pastoral backgrounds when the action moves from the residential suburbs to the rural outskirts add to that poignancy, as do the dulcet tones of Randy Newman’s score. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026