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Added 6 October 2026

poignant

/ˈpɔɪ.njənt/ adjective

Latin root: pungō Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about poignant at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Sharp-pointed; keen.
Neat; eloquent; applicable; relevant.
A poignant reply will garner more credence than hours of blown smoke.
Evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving.
Flipping through his high school yearbook evoked many a poignant memory of yesteryear.

Origin

From Middle English poynaunt, poynant, borrowed from Anglo-Norman puignant, poynaunt etc., present participle of poindre (“to prick”), from Latin pungō (“prick”). Doublet of pungent.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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