Word a Day
poignant
What does poignant mean?
poignant (adjective): evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use poignant in a sentence?
- Flipping through his high school yearbook evoked many a poignant memory of yesteryear. (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0)
How do you pronounce poignant?
/ˈpɔɪnjənt/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does poignant come from?
From Middle English poynaunt, poynant, borrowed from Anglo-Norman puignant, poynaunt etc., present participle of poindre (“to prick”), from Latin pungō (“prick”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Words related to poignant
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “poignant”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “poignant” mean?
closely packed or densely constituted; having much material in a small volume
Not quite: that's what compact means.
forming an end or termination; especially putting an end to doubt or question
Not quite: that's what conclusive means.
governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous
Not quite: that's what strict means.
evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving
Right! That's what “poignant” means.
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