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

As the gunfire was heard, the drone appeared to veer sharply before diving toward the beach.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Polling shows that many younger voters, especially independents, progressive Democrats and some Republicans, have turned sharply against Israel in recent years amid widespread debate over Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza.

— Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharply

Adverb

Children suffering from a condition known as wasting are acutely malnourished, become very thin for their height, and need immediate therapeutic feeding.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Sabanto was founded by Craig Rupp who grew up on a farm in Iowa and was acutely aware of labor shortages.

— Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of acutely

Adverb

Investors and startup CEOs are keenly studying the variations in how much an African tech startup can hope to raise as a signal for assessing the ecosystem’s health.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Plants and animals keenly sense the diminishing light, which acts as a master biological clock that triggers changes such as migration, shifting hormone levels and winter coat growth.

— Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of keenly

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

And then, the organization's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, harshly came out against the plan, releasing a statement to the Associated Press, saying FIFA's staff had been blindsided by it.

— Rafael Nam, NPR, 31 July 2026
Like other senior bankers, Sehnaoui was harshly criticized following Lebanon's historic economic meltdown in 2019, when most people lost access to their money.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of harshly

Adverb

Silica particles cause lungs to fight back with fibrotic tissue that builds and builds, severely inhibiting the ability to breathe.

— Howard Berkes, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026
This kind of telescope is ideal for solar work, being a good size aperture to reveal fine detail, but not so large as to be severely affected by daytime atmospheric turbulence.

— Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of severely

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poignant

poignantly

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“Poignantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignantly. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of poignantly

adverb

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