POIGNANTLY Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

poignantly

adverb

Definition of poignantly

as in sharply

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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 poignantly Our range includes a meandering cowboy odyssey that sprawls from a nowhere town in Texas to Big Sky country, a poignantly observant memoir from a wild child Dreamlander, and a careful dissection of a situationship set to the rhythms of 1970s Brazil. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 The reunion, poignantly, took place at Charles’s country home, Highgrove House, where Harry spent much of his childhood. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 16 July 2026 As Ethan, Stock was as perversely alienating as he was poignantly alienated. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 At the very least, the attacks have brought the war home even more poignantly for millions of Russians, shattering Putin’s narrative of the conflict as something that doesn’t affect the lives of ordinary people in his country. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 Collecting is often a function of loss, an attempt to save something that might otherwise disappear, as the volume’s final essay poignantly articulates. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 26 June 2026 This case makes poignantly clear how much Florida will miss Labarga, the only justice who was not appointed by DeSantis. — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026 After the wedding, Frances frequently sported the earrings, poignantly wearing them at her daughter’s funeral. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 June 2026 Michelle Obama has long demonstrated a knack for conveying messages through her clothing, and her outfit on Tuesday poignantly exemplified her mastery of this skill. — Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignantly

Adverb

Heavy rain can sharply reduce visibility and create dangerous road conditions even before flooding begins.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Israel sharply criticized the UK after London voiced opposition to the Jewish state’s support for settlements in the occupied West Bank, the latest in a series of rows with once strong Western allies.

— Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharply

Adverb

Below, during a conversation with THR, Taylor-Joy also discusses key changes made to Jonathan Tropper’s adaptation of Marissa Stapley’s novel Lucky, before revealing what made her first day on set acutely emotional.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026
The industry’s promises AI companies are acutely aware of the souring views toward data centers, and several have made pledges to try and assure Americans that their buildouts will benefit the country.

— Ashley Capoot,Garrett Downs, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of acutely

Adverb

Chef Steven Pham is still simmering his signature Northern Vietnamese-style pho ga, which features a soul-piercingly clear broth, tender poached chicken, rice noodles, and a floating raft of fresh herbs.

— Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
The Towode Door Stop Alarm is a budget-friendly, highly effective safety tool that functions as a wedge door stop and a piercingly loud alarm when activated.

— Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026

Definition of piercingly

Adverb

Republican lawmakers have largely remained silent about the conditions on the Lincoln – not harshly criticizing the administration, but not defending it either.

— Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
At the final stop, so to speak, before Antarctica, the weather is harshly volatile, and in the wilderness surrounding the few small cities and towns, civilization dwindles almost to nothing.

— Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of harshly

Adverb

The Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze is played as a glowering, skeptical presence by a darkly handsome English actor.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Angels is relentless, melodic, and aggressive—Pocket Pet and Achilles are standouts—a darkly feverish run of glitchy and tense soundscapes.

— Vogue, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of darkly

Adverb

Shipping traffic remains severely restricted, demonstrating that many shipowners are not willing to risk a possible Iranian attack and underscoring Tehran’s ongoing leverage over Hormuz.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
One pedestrian was killed and another was severely injured during a hit-and-run crash in South Los Angeles on Monday, according to Los Angeles police.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of severely

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poignant

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“Poignantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignantly. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of poignantly

adverb

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