poignant
Use Poignant in a sentence
yənt, ˈpɔɪ adjective
1.
keenly distressing to the feelings: poignant regret.
2.
keen or strong in mental appeal: a subject of poignant interest.
3.
affecting or moving the emotions: a poignant scene.
4.
pungent to the smell: poignant cooking odors.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English poynaunt < Middle French poignant, present participle of poindre < Latin pungere to prick, pierce. See pungent, -ant
1350–1400; Middle English poynaunt < Middle French poignant, present participle of poindre < Latin pungere to prick, pierce. See pungent, -ant
Related forms
poign·ant·ly, adverb
un·poign·ant, adjective
un·poign·ant·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. intense, sincere, heartfelt. 4. piquant, sharp.
1. intense, sincere, heartfelt. 4. piquant, sharp.
Antonyms
1, 2. mild.
1, 2. mild.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To poignant
00:10
Poignant
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
poignant (ˈpɔɪnjənt, -nənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | sharply distressing or painful to the feelings |
| 2. | to the point; cutting or piercing: poignant wit |
| 3. | keen or pertinent in mental appeal: a poignant subject |
| 4. | pungent in smell |
| [C14: from Old French, from Latin pungens pricking, from pungere to sting, pierce, grieve] | |
| 'poignancy | |
| —n | |
| 'poignance | |
| —n | |
| 'poignantly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
poignant
late 14c., "painful to physical or mental feeling," from O.Fr. poignant (13c.), prp. of poindre "to prick, sting," from L. pungere "to prick" (see pungent).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
There was no poignant moment at the finish despite the valiant duel.
Steinbeck's classic novel remains the most poignant portrait of that migration.
The film can be read as a poignant reminder that even then, not everyone wanted to live in the world of tomorrow.
There is another, again poignant, possible explanation for the disappearance of the big-brained people.
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