adjective
poignant
POYN-yunt/ˈpɔɪnjənt/
Deeply moving, often with a feeling of sadness.
Holding the old photograph beside the empty chair creates a poignant moment.
Etymology
The image is of something pricking or stinging: what hurts the body can also pierce the feelings. This emotional sharpness underlies the sense of being deeply moving, often with sadness.
In context
your unhappy friend avoid a subject so distressing what could I do the feelings of Sophia were at that time so Exquisite and the tenderness she felt for Augustus so poignant
More examples
- The film ends with a poignant farewell between old friends.
- His empty chair is a poignant reminder of our loss.
- Their reunion feels especially poignant after so many years apart.
Forms
poignant · more poignant · most poignant
poignancy noun — The quality of stirring deep, often sad feelings.
poignantly adverb — In a deeply moving, often sad way.