Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

poignant

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of poignant

1 having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies
  • a poignant story of a love affair that ends in tragedy
Synonyms of poignant

affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, moving, stirring, touching
Words Related to poignant

eloquent, expressive, meaningful, significant

demonstrative, excitable, feeling, passionate, responsive, sensitive

exciting, inspirational, provoking, rousing, stimulating

dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric)

cathartic
Near Antonyms of poignant

cold, cool, detached, dispassionate, emotionless

deadpan
Antonyms of poignant

unaffecting, unemotional, unimpressive
2 sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses
  • a poignant truthfulness to the author's observations
Synonyms of poignant

pert, piquant, pungent, salty, savory (also savoury), zesty, zingy
Words Related to poignant

racy, spicy

fiery, gingery, hot, peppery, vinegary

acute, keen

biting, bitter, cutting, mordant, trenchant

animating, energizing, enlightening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, piquing, provocative, provoking

ambrosial, appetizing, delectable, delicious, luscious, palatable, scrumptious, toothsome

flavorful, savorous, tasty
Near Antonyms of poignant

flat, flavorless, savorless, tasteless

arid, banal, barren, boring, colorless, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, numbing, pedestrian, ponderous, stale, stodgy, tedious, tiring, wearisome

bland, dilute, thin, watery, weak
Antonyms of poignant

insipid, zestless

Synonym Discussion of poignant

pungent, piquant, poignant, racy mean sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses. pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.
    • a cheese with a pungent odor
piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.
    • a piquant sauce
poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.
    • felt a poignant sense of loss
racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.
    • spontaneous, racy prose

Learn More about poignant

  1. Dictionary: Definition of poignant Spanish Central: Translation of poignant Nglish: Translation of poignant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of poignant for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up poignant? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games