poignance
Noun: 1. A quality that evokes a keen sense of sadness, regret, or pity; emotional intensity or depth, especially of a bittersweet or moving nature. It describes the sharp, deeply affecting quality of an emotion, memory, or situation.
Poignance is an uncountable noun used to describe the inherent, moving quality of something. It is a formal and literary term. * It is often used with verbs like have, carry, add, lose, or feel. * It is commonly modified by adjectives like great, particular, special, extraordinary, or simple. * It frequently appears in discussions of art, literature, memory, and personal experience.
- The poignance of the final scene left the entire audience in tears.
- Her letter was filled with a quiet poignance that moved me deeply.
- The old photograph had a poignance that words could not fully capture.
- Time has not diminished the poignance of that memory.
- "to be not without poignance": A formal construction meaning something is indeed poignant or has a poignant aspect.
- The reunion was joyful, but it was not without a certain poignance, given the years they had lost.
- Poignant (adj.): Causing a keen sense of sadness or pity; sharply affecting the feelings.
- It was a poignant reminder of her childhood.
- Poignancy (n.): This is a more common synonym for . The two words are often used interchangeably, though is more frequent.
- The poignancy of the moment was unforgettable.
- Pathos
- Sadness
- Bittersweetness
- Emotional depth
The provided reference context defines poignance as "a state of deeply felt distress or sorrow." This aligns with the core meaning but presents it as a state one experiences rather than a quality something possesses. The primary definition above ("a quality that evokes...") is the more standard and frequent usage. The reference definition is valid but represents a specific, less common application of the word.
- a state of deeply felt distress or sorrow
- a moment of extraordinary poignancy