Definitions for poignant
ˈpɔɪn yənt, ˈpɔɪ nəntpoignant

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

1. affecting, poignant, touching(adj)

   arousing affect

   "the homecoming of the released hostages was an affecting scene"; "poignant grief cannot endure forever"; "his gratitude was simple and touching"

2. poignant(adj)

   keenly distressing to the mind or feelings

   "poignant anxiety"

Wiktionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. poignant(Adjective)

   Sharp-pointed; keen.

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

2. poignant(Adjective)

   Incisive; penetrating.

   His comments were poignant and witty.

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

3. poignant(Adjective)

   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. poignant(Adjective)

   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. poignant(Adjective)

   Piquant, pungent.

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

6. poignant(Adjective)

   Piercing.

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

7. poignant(Adjective)

   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. Poignant(adj)

   pricking; piercing; sharp; pungent

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

2. Poignant(adj)

   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

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Henry M. Wriston:

   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.

2. Perry Brass:

   The most amazing thing about young men is how invisible they were to you when you were young. It is also the most poignant.

3. Ian Blatchford:

   This exhibition marks 100 years since the end of the Romanov dynasty and explores one of the most dramatic periods in Russian history, all through the unique lens of science, our curatorial team have brought together an exceptional, rare and poignant collection to tell this remarkable story.

4. Michael Enright:

   After I saw the cowardly way James Foley was killed, I knew I had to do something, and what was most poignant for me.

5. Constantin Stanislavski:

   Success is transient, evanescent. The real passion lies in the poignant acquisition of knowledge about all the shading and subtleties of the creative secrets.

Images & Illustrations of poignant

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