Poignant
adjective /ˈpɔɪ.njənt/ — Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
Definition
Having a sharp, pleasantly painful emotional effect — touching in a way that is both beautiful and sorrowful, producing a feeling that lingers.
Beyond the definition
The emotion that beauty and grief share when they arrive together. Something poignant doesn't just make you sad — it makes you feel that the sadness was somehow right.
Origin & history
From Old French 'poignant' (sharp, pricking), from 'poindre' (to prick) — from Latin 'pungere' (to pierce). Poignant emotion pierces.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The final scene was poignant precisely because nothing dramatic happened in it.
There is something poignant about seeing the house after everyone has left.
Poignant is the word for a happiness that knows it will end.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Poignant” when the meaning fits your context: Having a sharp, pleasantly painful emotional effect — touching in a way that is both beautiful and sorrowful, producing a feeling that lingers.
Synonyms
touching, moving, affecting, tender, bittersweet
Antonyms
bland, unmoved, cold
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Poignant" mean?
Poignant is adjective meaning: Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret. Having a sharp, pleasantly painful emotional effect — touching in a way that is both beautiful and sorrowful, producing a feeling that lingers.
Where does the word "Poignant" come from?
From Old French 'poignant' (sharp, pricking), from 'poindre' (to prick) — from Latin 'pungere' (to pierce). Poignant emotion pierces.