poignancy

noun

poi·​gnan·​cy ˈpȯi-nyən(t)-sē 

 sometimes  ˈpȯi(g)-nən(t)-sē

plural poignancies

1

: the quality or state of being poignant

2

: an instance of poignancy

Synonyms

• acerbity
• acidity
• acidness
• acridity
• acridness
• acrimoniousness
• acrimony
• acuteness
• asperity
• bite
• bitterness
• edge
• harshness
• keenness
• poignance
• pungency
• roughness
• sharpness
• tartness

Examples of poignancy in a Sentence

there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting

Recent Examples on the Web

Eternal Father Ömer Sami trained a camera on a cable technician in northern England and let the poignancy fly. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2025

Passion, poignancy, ecstasy, agony and a Tic Tac ad Best game Everton 2-0 Liverpool, of course. —Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

Bits were acute — the repeat of the first-movement exposition returned to the material with a ghostlier sheen — but full movements lacked through-lines of energy, focus and poignancy; the climaxes didn’t feel earned. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

In fact, though several have extraordinary voices, notably Ingram, the movie seems to be banking more on the poignancy of someone trying to push past their range. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

poignancy

noun

poi·​gnan·​cy ˈpȯi-nyən-sē 

: the quality or state of being poignant