poignant
poignant Lexical Profile
poignant Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Evoking a keen sense of sadness, regret, or deep emotional sympathy; deeply touching or moving.
"The documentary concluded with a poignant interview featuring survivors returning to their childhood homes."
Sharp, incisive, or cutting in expression, wit, or mental appeal.
"Her essay offered a poignant critique of modern consumer culture."
Sharp or pungent to the sense of taste or smell (now rare or literary).
"A poignant aroma of woodsmoke and pine needles drifted through the cabin."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Poignant' is frequently misused to mean simply 'important,' 'relevant,' or 'on point' (confusing it with 'pertinent' or 'pointed'), whereas it properly refers to something that evokes a keen sense of sadness, regret, or deep emotional resonance.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Old French 'poignant', the present participle of 'poindre' ('to prick or sting'), which derives from the Latin verb 'pungere' ('to prick or pierce').