| a. | 1. | Pricking; piercing; sharp; pungent. |
| 2. | Fig.: Pointed; keen; satirical. |
| Adj. | 1. | poignant - arousing affect; "the homecoming of the released hostages was an affecting scene"; "poignant grief cannot endure forever"; "his gratitude was simple and touching" |
| 2. | poignant - keenly distressing to the mind or feelings; "poignant anxiety" |