What does poignant mean?
Definitions for poignant
ˈpɔɪn yənt, ˈpɔɪ nəntpoignant
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word poignant.
Princeton's WordNet
affecting, poignant, touchingadjective
arousing affect
"the homecoming of the released hostages was an affecting scene"; "poignant grief cannot endure forever"; "his gratitude was simple and touching"
poignantadjective
keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
"poignant anxiety"
Wiktionary
poignantadjective
Sharp-pointed; keen.
poignantadjective
Incisive; penetrating.
His comments were poignant and witty.
poignantadjective
neat; eloquent; applicable; relevant.
A poignant reply will garner more credence than hours of blown smoke.
poignantadjective
Evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving.
Flipping through his high school yearbook evoked many a poignant memory of yesteryear.
poignantadjective
Piquant, pungent.
poignantadjective
Piercing.
poignantadjective
Inducing sharp physical pain.
Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
POIGNANTadjective
Etymology: poignant, Fr.
No poignant sauce she knew, nor costly treat,
Her hunger gave a relish to her meat. Dryden.The studious man, whose will was never determined to poignant sauces and delicious wine, is, by hunger and thirst, determined to eating and drinking. John Locke.
If God makes use of some poignant disgrace to let out the poisonous vapour, is not the mercy greater than the severity of the cure? Robert South, Sermons.
Full three long hours his tender body did sustain
Most exquisite and poignant pain. John Norris, Miscel.
ChatGPT
poignant
Poignant is an adjective used to describe something that evokes a strong emotion, typically of sadness, empathy, or sympathy. It usually refers to something deeply moving, touching, or thought-provoking in a way that lingers in one's emotions or memory.
Webster Dictionary
Poignantadjective
pricking; piercing; sharp; pungent
Poignantadjective
fig.: Pointed; keen; satirical
Etymology: [F., p. pr. of poindre to sting, fr. L. pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Poignant
poin′ant, adj. stinging, pricking: sharp: penetrating: acutely painful: satirical: pungent.—n. Poign′ancy, state of being poignant.—adv. Poign′antly. [O. Fr. poignant, poindre—L. pungĕre, to sting.]
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of poignant in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of poignant in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of poignant in a Sentence
It has always been such a personal song and such a poignant song, and every time I play it, I want to cry because I'm thinking of my mother, I'm thinking of my grandmother, I'm thinking of friends of mine who can't make ends meet.
The more profound the loss, the more poignant the grief
Among all the tragic consequences of depression and war, this suppression of personal self-expression through one's life work is among the most poignant.
In all the years I did the Queen's Birthday Parade, it was Her Majesty the Queen there. To not have Her Majesty arriving was poignant and the fact that she went out onto the balcony was lovely, i thought in my heart, how many more times am I going to see Her Majesty like that? It was quite sad for a lot of reasons. I know the Platinum Jubilee is meant to be a wonderful occasion and something to mark 70 years, but it was tinged with sadness for me.
We start there, every time. Including last year, what happened in 2013 was the closest and perhaps most poignant part of our history, but part of the history. The history going forward would be written by the people who come and run and watch and participate in all the ways that people do.
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References
Translations for poignant
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- ergreifend, eindringlich, eindringend, schneidend, schmerzlich, schmerzhaft, streng, treffend, packend, zugespitzt, beißend, stechend, pikant, durchdringend, spitz, scharfGerman
- διαπεραστικός, σπαραχτικός, οξύς, οδυνηρός, αιχμηρός, αιχημρός, επίπονοςGreek
- agudo, elocuente, claro, incisivo, punzo-cortante, conmovedor, picante, penetrante, puntiagudoSpanish
- تکان دهندهPersian
- kärkevä, kirpeä, pistävä, pikanttiFinnish
- poignantFrench
- tiamhaidhScottish Gaelic
- elevenbe vágóHungarian
- penetrante, chiaro, toccante, intenso, pungente, piccante, commovente, acuto, eloquente, appuntito, affilato, incisivo, emozionante, dolorosoItalian
- נוגע ללבHebrew
- 辛辣な, 痛烈な, 鋭いJapanese
- ಕಟುವಾದKannada
- whakaarohaMāori
- schrijnendDutch
- wzruszający, cięty, ostryPolish
- incisivo, agudo, penetrante, claro, picante, emocionante, pungente, eloquente, comovente, doloroso, pontiagudoPortuguese
- резкий (о запахе), пронизывающий, острыйRussian
- starkSwedish
- thấm thíaVietnamese
- שאַרףYiddish
- 凄美Chinese
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