What does poignant mean?

Question

Please explain what poignant means.

I do not understand the definition.

Does it mean heart felt and inspirtational or sad?

Answer 1

I would avoid placing a particular emotion on the term “poignant”. It has a lot of meanings. As a word, its lineage is almost the same as “pungent” and in fact it can be used in the same way - a “poignant perfume,” for example, is one that cuts sharply through the air. The word “poignant” primarily refers to a particularly intelligent remark, without that remark necessarily being a sad one. If someone says something revelatory or observational in a particularly precise way, they are “being poignant”. This is to say that “poignant” simply describes something as having a particularly concise form and a long-lasting, deeply-impactful effect, regardless of whether that effect is happy or sad. Aphorisms are usually poignant.

Answer 2

Hi Sandy! To answer your question, poignant can mean when something touches your emotions, especially in a melancholy or sad way. Here's an example sentence: The poignant movie reminded her so much of her painful childhood that it made her cry. I like to use Vocabulary.com/dictionary for definitions. I hope this helps!

Answer 3

Poignant means something which is painful, heart-felt, saddening, touching and deeply affecting.

Answer 4

Painfully affecting the feelings: piercing

Used in a sentence:That Kirby has gained a following for spreading happiness is particularly poignant because life hasn't always dealt her generous amounts of it.