adj Uncommon

poignant

POY-nyuhnt

Poignant (adj) means Deeply moving, often with a touch of sadness. Example: “The film's final scene was quietly poignant.”

adj

Deeply moving, often with a touch of sadness.

"The film's final scene was quietly poignant."

"She wrote a poignant tribute to her late father."

Sharply relevant or incisive.

"His poignant observation cut right to the heart of the debate."

How to use poignant

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that stirs up strong, often bittersweet, emotion.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "pungent" (a sharp smell or taste) — related in origin but different in meaning today.

Easily confused with

pungent →

Common pairings

poignant moment poignant reminder deeply poignant

more poignant comparative, most poignant superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The film's final scene was quietly _____.

From Old French poindre, "to prick," from Latin pungere, "to pierce, sting" — the same root as "pungent."

Origin: Latin

malignant indignant

What does “poignant” mean?

The word “poignant” means deeply moving, often with a touch of sadness. In plain terms, something that stirs up strong, often bittersweet, emotion.

How do you pronounce “poignant”?

“Poignant” is pronounced POY-nyuhnt (/ˈpɔɪ.njənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “poignant” in a sentence?

Here is “poignant” used in a sentence: “The film's final scene was quietly poignant.”

What part of speech is “poignant”?

“Poignant” is an adjective.

Where does the word “poignant” come from?

The word “poignant” comes from Latin. From Old French poindre, "to prick," from Latin pungere, "to pierce, sting" — the same root as "pungent.".

Is “poignant” a common word?

“Poignant” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “poignant” have?

“Poignant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deeply moving, often with a touch of sadness.