as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting
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Recent Examples of poignancy
The movie got rave reviews at Sundance for its dark humor, poignancy, and the confidence of its debut filmmaker; Victor is certainly one to watch.
—
Ben Rosenstock, Time, 16 May 2025
To drive home the pain and poignancy of that, the album cover featured a photo of Jeffreys as a child dressed in his baseball uniform to attend the historic game in which Jackie Robinson broke the color line.
—Jim Farber, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
The movie’s poignancy accumulates gradually, every supple turn expertly modulated as the presence of generations past becomes more tangible.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Metcalf is the rare actor who can lunge after comedy without sacrificing the raw poignancy of her character.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Ben Rosenstock, Time, 16 May 2025
To drive home the pain and poignancy of that, the album cover featured a photo of Jeffreys as a child dressed in his baseball uniform to attend the historic game in which Jackie Robinson broke the color line.
—Jim Farber, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
The movie’s poignancy accumulates gradually, every supple turn expertly modulated as the presence of generations past becomes more tangible.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Metcalf is the rare actor who can lunge after comedy without sacrificing the raw poignancy of her character.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for poignancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poignancy
Noun
-
In his college days, Quintero would frequent La Jolla Village and The Shores, usually to grab a bite to eat or visit Warwick’s bookstore.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 July 2025
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The secret to this fantastic recipe is pockets of bursting, gooey cheese in every bite.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
24 July 2025
Noun
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There, leaning against the edge of his desk, dressed in his trademark grey suit, is the first-ever Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Pearl Cove Beach Club Located at the western edge of Celebration Key, Pearl Cove offers an exclusive experience for an additional cost.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Babe Ruth and other Yankee teammates appear in the film, thus adding to its authenticity and poignance.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Dec. 2024
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Horowitz’s operation embodied both the allure and the poignance of the trade.—
Tad Friend,
The New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poignancy. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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