1
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies
a poignant story of a love affair that ends in tragedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spicy
sharp and pleasantly stimulating to the mind or senses
a poignant truthfulness to the author's observations on marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poignant
Genre expectations demand a certain level of peril and bloodshed, but seeing Monster register his suffering doubled at the end of Bride of Frankenstein is too poignant to only depict the Bride as violent and vengeful thereafter.
—
Rory Doherty, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
Though the two barely mentioned each other leading up to Liam’s death, Harry posted a poignant tribute to his bandmate.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 Mar. 2026
The fact that match took place in Libreville was unbelievably poignant.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
And throughout the years, unexpectedly and unintentionally, Out On A Limb has bumped up against world news events that Martinez said only make the work feel even more poignant and timely.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignant
Rory Doherty, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
Though the two barely mentioned each other leading up to Liam’s death, Harry posted a poignant tribute to his bandmate.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 Mar. 2026
The fact that match took place in Libreville was unbelievably poignant.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
And throughout the years, unexpectedly and unintentionally, Out On A Limb has bumped up against world news events that Martinez said only make the work feel even more poignant and timely.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignant
Adjective
-
Adolescence — roughly ages 10 to 19, according to the World Health Organization — is the critical window for developing confidence, a stable sense of identity and emotional regulation.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Google’s latest lawsuit pushes the company to do more, such as warning users about the risks of having long emotional conversations with its chatbot.—
The Los Angeles Times,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Her trick is to finely chop the ginger, instead of grating it, so there are spicy-sweet nubs in each bite.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Odd pieces that are too small or irregularly shaped to cut into sashimi can be easily minced for spicy poke.—
Stella Fong,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Devin Lloyd, the Jacksonville Jaguars inside linebacker who spent 2025 compiling one of the most impressive stat-lines in the NFL, agreed to a 3-year, $45 million deal, a league source told The Observer.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Rusadze, Giorgadze, and Chasserot have built an impressive industry network over the years, so for their official debut, have secured an impressive roster of backstage talent and models through friends who are keen to support.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Red cabbage, carrots and Tuscan kale form the base, bound together with a piquant balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The comments section features a piquant blend of solemnity, mortification, tastelessness, and transphobia, which accords with Moreschi’s reception in his lifetime.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And a recent trip to Costco had the perfect restaurant copycat product to kick things off in delicious, budget-friendly style.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Today, visitors can still tour its founding castle and its Museum of Arms, stroll its cobblestone streets, and duck into its delicious restaurants serving traditional meals.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
According to a post on Facebook by the New Zealand Police, a volunteer at the store noticed a pungent aroma before opening the bag, and found multiple small bags of marijuana and a large wad of cash.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The native of Roi Et, a small village in Northeast Thailand, learned to cook from her mother and great-grandmother and carries forth their legacy with pungent pad ka pow and succulent roast chicken with crackling skin.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Kurt's key takeaways Security updates rarely feel exciting.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Houston should be one of the most exciting teams in the tournament, and that’s in large part because of Flemings.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The study is a fascinating look at how relationships impact your health.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Coyotes are fascinating creatures that once weren’t found east of the Mississippi River.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignant. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
