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
There will be a similar poignancy this year for the 50th anniversary of the ‘75 pennant team, which will be incomplete without Luis Tiant, who passed away last October.
—
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2025
The pair channel a believable chemistry as father and daughter that lands the emotional poignancy of a penultimate scene.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
As Pansy, a London housewife at furious odds with herself and the world, Jean-Baptiste brought stunning poignancy to what might otherwise have been a one-note rant.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
The movie’s greatest poignancy comes from the sense of what might have been if Ford had just yes to Soderbergh.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2025
The pair channel a believable chemistry as father and daughter that lands the emotional poignancy of a penultimate scene.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
As Pansy, a London housewife at furious odds with herself and the world, Jean-Baptiste brought stunning poignancy to what might otherwise have been a one-note rant.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
The movie’s greatest poignancy comes from the sense of what might have been if Ford had just yes to Soderbergh.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignancy
Noun
-
In Jackson, the battle’s over, and those who suffered bites accept their fate.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
This home remedy can help to cool and soothe insect bites.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Roberts has played several positions across the defensive front but has been primarily an edge defender.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Six female celebs — including pop songstress Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King and Jeff Bezos’s fiancée, author Lauren Sánchez — are slated to blast off Monday morning in a Blue Origin rocket headed for the edge of space.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Babe Ruth and other Yankee teammates appear in the film, thus adding to its authenticity and poignance.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Dec. 2024
-
Horowitz’s operation embodied both the allure and the poignance of the trade.—
Tad Friend,
The New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignancy. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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