Definitions for poignant
ˈpɔɪn yənt, ˈpɔɪ nəntpoignant

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. 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"

2. poignantadjective

   keenly distressing to the mind or feelings

   "poignant anxiety"

Wiktionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. poignantadjective

   Sharp-pointed; keen.

   Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.

2. poignantadjective

   Incisive; penetrating.

   His comments were poignant and witty.

   Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.

3. poignantadjective

   neat; eloquent; applicable; relevant.

   A poignant reply will garner more credence than hours of blown smoke.

   Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.

4. 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.

   Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.

5. poignantadjective

   Piquant, pungent.

   Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.

6. poignantadjective

   Piercing.

   Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.

7. poignantadjective

   Inducing sharp physical pain.

   Etymology: From poynaunt, puignant et al., poignant, present participle of poindre, from pungo.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Poignantadjective

   pricking; piercing; sharp; pungent

   Etymology: [F., p. pr. of poindre to sting, fr. L. pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent.]

2. 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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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.]

How to pronounce poignant?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say poignant in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of poignant in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of poignant in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of poignant in a Sentence

1. Martin Garside:

   It is incredibly sad - I was literally two feet from this dead whale, it was both poignant and a bit eerie really - road traffic was thundering overhead on the busiest motorway in Britain and oblivious to all the people in the cars and lorries there was a 10-metre long beautiful whale floating dead beneath them.

2. Prince Edward:

   It was an experience that so many other families have had to go through during this past year or 18 months and so in that sense, it was particularly poignant, there are an awful lot of people who haven't been able to express the respect that they would like to have done. I think many people would have liked to have been there to support The Queen.

3. Logan Pearsall Smith:

   There are few sorrows, however poignant, in which a good income is of no avail.

4. Tom Grilk:

   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.

5. Blow:

   George So in the end, was it worth it Jesus Christ. How irreparably changed my life has become. It's always the last days of summer and I've been left out in the cold with no door to get back in. I'll grant you I've had more than my share of poignant moments. Life passes most people by when they're busy making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost barely enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door.

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