poignancy

noun

poi·​gnan·​cy ˈpȯi-nyən(t)-sē How to pronounce poignancy (audio)
 sometimes  ˈpȯi(g)-nən(t)-sē
plural poignancies
1
: the quality or state of being poignant
2
: an instance of poignancy

Examples of poignancy in a Sentence

there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting
Recent Examples on the Web The next set featured three photos with plenty of poignancy. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Their cozy companionship, romantic or not, has a subtle poignancy that's earned fans across generations. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 In an age when species extinction has reached alarming proportions, perhaps this quest to discover new life carries extra poignancy. Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 18 Jan. 2024 The film is laced with dry humor but also poignancy and notes of melancholy. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024 But the play’s great poignancy lies in its restraint, in the moments that could lead to shouting and instead lead to silence and space, the insufficiency — especially in a world of constant translation — of language. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 Jose Miranda Hubris isn’t a long or super-complex show, but there’s an abundance of sly poignancy within its simple frame. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 For those of us who loved this actor’s work, there was a particular poignancy to see words fail him for once, this actor of Shakespearean grandiloquence, tamping down his natural gift for language to express a deeper, more sorrowful truth. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023 But these vignettes add up to much more than the sum of their parts, merging into a touching intergenerational tale about the importance of family, the poignancy of aging, and the role of tradition in immigrant life. Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poignancy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of poignancy was in 1680

Dictionary Entries Near poignancy

Cite this Entry

“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poignancy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

poignancy

noun
poi·​gnan·​cy ˈpȯi-nyən-sē How to pronounce poignancy (audio)
: the quality or state of being poignant

More from Merriam-Webster on poignancy

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