Meaning & use

poignancy

noun·Advanced

The quality of evoking deep sadness, tenderness, or emotional depth.

See it in a sentence

The poignancy of the old photograph brought tears to her eyes.

The film's ending had a quiet poignancy that stayed with the audience long after.

A note on using this word

Poignancy usually describes moments, memories, or art that stir gentle sadness rather than sharp grief.

Words with a similar meaning

pathostenderness

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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