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
Examples of poignancy in a Sentence
there was a poignancy to his wit that often left his targets smarting
Recent Examples on the Web
But there’s a poignancy to the sight of Gyllenhaal, now forty-three and shredded to the max, paying tribute to his late former screen partner.
—
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Even with an opening-night flub, Terrence Mann brought cheerful warmth as the Narrator; Unity Phelan was a luxurious librarian turned mermaid; and Sara Mearns, as the Swan, brought poignancy to her back, her arms and, as usual, her everything.
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
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
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Even with an opening-night flub, Terrence Mann brought cheerful warmth as the Narrator; Unity Phelan was a luxurious librarian turned mermaid; and Sara Mearns, as the Swan, brought poignancy to her back, her arms and, as usual, her everything.
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near poignancy
Cite this Entry
“Poignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poignancy. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poignancy
noun
poi·gnan·cy
ˈpȯi-nyən-sē
: the quality or state of being poignant
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