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poignancy

poignancy

5 8.0
A strong, sad feeling that moves you
  • noun
  • /ˈpɔɪn.jən.si/
translation icon : emotividad
  • Her speech captured the poignancy of loss, moving everyone in the room to tears.
  • adds poignancy
  • particular poignancy
  • feel the poignancy

When she told me the conversation she had, she didn't build it up, or maybe she didn't even realize the poignancy of it.

Examples

  • One can imagine the poignancy of this reunion.

  • Moved by the poignancy of such a simple request, Jed stared after her.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • And suddenly I realized that there was a great poignancy developing in the song that I never intended.

    Blog text (32)
  • The content of the words does not account for the tender poignancy of the scene.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Although all ancient cultures and modern cultures struggle with the problem of evil, it had particular poignancy for ancient Israel.

  • Now, looking back, I realize the poignancy of a long-distance relationship.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • What adds poignancy to learning about the issues embedded in the cases is the authenticity of the exercise.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Vivid, visceral, told with both humor and poignancy, Last Man in Tower is his most stunning work yet.

    Blog text (20)
  • Long after Sterre's death, his sense of bereavement retains much of its original strength and poignancy.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The skillful editing of these moments unveils a poignancy about the longings of older individuals.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

grief
vspoignancy
443 2.1

Deep sadness after you lose someone or something important

is the quality that evokes strong sadness, not the personal process after loss
sadness
vspoignancy
229 1.0

A feeling of being unhappy

is the quality that produces deep emotion rather than a simple feeling
deep sorrow
vspoignancy
4 3.7

A very strong feeling of sadness after a great loss

is the quality that causes such intense feelings rather than the feeling itself
pathos
vspoignancy
  • Literature
1 7.5

A quality in art or speech that makes people feel pity and deep sadness

is the same emotional effect but not limited to artistic use
soulfulness
vspoignancy
1 6.4

A deep, strong feeling in music or art that moves people

focuses specifically on causing strong sadness rather than general depth
poignance
vspoignancy
  • Literature
1 8.7

A strong feeling of sadness that deeply moves someone

is the same quality expressed in another form
bittersweetness
vspoignancy
1 4.8

A feeling that is happy and sad at the same time

centres on causing strong sadness or deep emotion alone
mournfulness
vspoignancy
1 6.5

A deep, quiet feeling or look of sadness

emphasises causing strong emotional response rather than appearance alone
plaintiveness
vspoignancy
8.3

A sad sound or feeling that shows someone feels sorrow

is broader, causing strong sadness rather than only expressive tone
sorrowfulness
vspoignancy
6.3

A deep feeling of sadness about a loss

is about producing strong sadness in others rather than personal state

Antonyms

970 1.0

A feeling of pleasure and being satisfied

1 2.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

How Moving

heartbreak
76 3.9
poignancy
5 8.0
tenderness
41 3.4
sadness
229 1.0

Surface Forms

poignancy singular
poignancies plural

Morphology

poignancy = poignant (transparent) = poignant + cy

The noun is a regular abstract noun formed from the adjective 'poignant' with the suffix '-cy', so the meaning (the quality of being poignant) is directly derived.

Etymology

The word poignancy comes from the Latin root pungere, which means 'to prick' or 'to pierce', and shares that root with the everyday word point. Think of a small, sharp prick on your feelings — that is why something poignant makes you feel a strong, often sad, emotion.