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GRE vocabulary

poignant

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore P words

evoking a keen sense of sadness or emotional impact

Word origin: From French poindre, to prick or sting, from Latin pungere.

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In a sentence

Poignant in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing poignant in a sentence.

The documentary ended with a poignant reunion of long-separated families.

The photograph of the empty classroom became a poignant reminder of the lives the war had interrupted.

Synonyms
movingtouchingaffectingheartrending
Antonyms
unmovingunaffecting

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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

The negotiator's reputation for blank served her well: rivals who tried to outwait her invariably found that she had already anticipated their stalling and arranged a fallback months in advance.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “poignant” well

Poignant describes something that produces a sharp, often bittersweet ache of emotion, not mere sadness.

Common questions

Questions about “poignant”

Poignant (adjective) means evoking a keen sense of sadness or emotional impact
Here is poignant used in an example sentence: "The documentary ended with a poignant reunion of long-separated families." Another example: "The photograph of the empty classroom became a poignant reminder of the lives the war had interrupted."
Common synonyms for poignant include moving, touching, affecting, heartrending.
Antonyms of poignant include unmoving, unaffecting.
On the GRE, poignant clusters with moving, touching, affecting, and heartrending, opposing unmoving and unaffecting.
Yes. Poignant is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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