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
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Recent Examples of poignant
The timing felt especially poignant.
—
Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Decades of speculation that the actress had been killed and the murder covered up by the most powerful people in Hollywood and Washington layered a poignant mystique over her radiant screen performances.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
But what seems like an escapist adventure blooms into a poignant narrative rich with existential ruminations on mortality and womanhood.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Perhaps more poignant than the event was the vibe of the two women at the heart of it.
—Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignant
Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Decades of speculation that the actress had been killed and the murder covered up by the most powerful people in Hollywood and Washington layered a poignant mystique over her radiant screen performances.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
But what seems like an escapist adventure blooms into a poignant narrative rich with existential ruminations on mortality and womanhood.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Perhaps more poignant than the event was the vibe of the two women at the heart of it.
—Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignant
Adjective
-
The speech saw the ceremony’s host Désirée Nosbusch become emotional and get into back-and-forth with audience members who called out in support of the criticism of Israel and the German government.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
21 Feb. 2026
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The difficulty lies in aligning financial reality, operational necessity, and emotional desire into a decision that makes sense five and 10 years from now.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Freak from The Girls Deli in North Park is a hot sandwich with salty pastrami, brisket, melted jack cheese, bacon, mustard, spicy sriracha mayo, onions, and jalapeños.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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The traditional ingredients of a scampi—garlic, white wine, and butter—meld with the essence of a seafood boil thanks to hot sauce, spicy sausage, and Cajun seasoning.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Known for its arts and music festivals, incredible food, gorgeous squares, and impressive museums, the city also boasts easy beach access with Tybee Island just a quick hop, skip, and a jump away.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Feb. 2026
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Pundits are piling on, with the groupthink of armchair analysts reflexively comparing American’s stock chart to admittedly impressive peers such as Delta and United, without recognizing their differences as compared to American, which flies the world’s largest number of passengers by far.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These pieces are flavor bombs, imparting salty, piquant, umami goodness into your soup.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 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
-
Watch summer corn shine in this fresh and flavorful recipe that stars sumac and feta in one delicious recipe.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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Spreading almond butter on toast is another delicious way to enjoy this nutrient-dense food.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The white flowers of the alyssums attract pollinators while the pungent scent of the rosemary repels pesky insects to keep them from feeding on the stems or leaves.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
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There was a pungent odor in the car.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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What matchup Wednesday looks the most exciting?—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
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Discoveries The new guard of American talent, Diotima, Ashlyn and Aisling Camps are consistently exciting and increasingly sophisticated in new and modern ways of dressing.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The buzzing underground networks are an important part of the modern, urban lifestyle in Canada’s coldest metropolises, and can be fascinating — and disorienting — for visitors.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But there are fascinating studies showing that time of day affects care—patients who are seen early are more likely to have preventive care reminders discussed than [those who are seen] late in the day, when doctors are tired.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignant. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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