Word Explorer

Poignant

/ˈpɔɪn.jənt/

Of a weapon, etc.: sharp-pointed; keen.

📖 Definitions of "Poignant"

adjective

1
Of a weapon, etc.: sharp-pointed; keen.
2
Neat; eloquent; applicable; relevant.
"A poignant reply will garner more credence than hours of blown smoke."
3
Evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving.
"Flipping through his high school yearbook evoked many a poignant memory of yesteryear."
4
Of a smell or taste: piquant, pungent.

4 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
movingnoun	(not comparable) That moves or move.
painful	Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.
touchingnoun	In direct contact with.
affecting	Producing or causing strong feelings and emotions.

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
moving	(not comparable) That moves or move.
painful	Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.
affecting	Producing or causing strong feelings and emotions.
touching	In direct contact with.
sharp	Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
striking	Making a strong impression.
glaring	Blatant, obvious.
thrilling	Causing a feeling of sudden excitement.
exciting	Creating or producing excitement.
laborious	Requiring much physical effort; toilsome.
agonizing	Causing physical or mental agony.
harrowing	(formal) Causing pain or distress; harrying.
profound	Very deep; very serious.
acute	Intense; sensitive; sharp.
powerful	Having, or capable of exerting, power or influence.
sentimental	Characterized by sentiment, sentimentality or excess emotion.
emotional	Of or relating to the emotions.
distressing	Causing distress; upsetting; distressful.
utter	To the furthest or most extreme extent; absolute, complete, total, unconditional.
disturbing	Causing distress or worry; upsetting or unsettling.