poignant

[ poin-yuhnt, poi-nuhnt ]
/ ˈpɔɪn yənt, ˈpɔɪ nənt /

adjective

keenly distressing to the feelings: poignant regret.
keen or strong in mental appeal: a subject of poignant interest.
affecting or moving the emotions: a poignant scene.
pungent to the smell: poignant cooking odors.

Origin of poignant

1350–1400; Middle English poynaunt < Middle French poignant, present participle of poindre < Latin pungere to prick, pierce. See pungent, -ant

SYNONYMS FOR poignant

1 intense, sincere, heartfelt.
4 piquant, sharp.

ANTONYMS FOR poignant

1, 2 mild.

OTHER WORDS FROM poignant

poign·ant·ly, adverb un·poign·ant, adjective un·poign·ant·ly, adverb

Words nearby poignant

pohl, pohutukawa, poi, poi dance, poignancy, poignant, poikilitic, poikilo-, poikiloblast, poikiloblastic, poikilocyte

Example sentences from the Web for poignantly

British Dictionary definitions for poignantly

poignant
/ (ˈpɔɪnjənt, -nənt) /

adjective

sharply distressing or painful to the feelings
to the point; cutting or piercing poignant wit
keen or pertinent in mental appeal a poignant subject
pungent in smell

Derived forms of poignant

poignancy or poignance, noun poignantly, adverb

Word Origin for poignant

C14: from Old French, from Latin pungens pricking, from pungere to sting, pierce, grieve