poignant
adj.causing a strong feeling of sadness or regret. It describes something that touches your heart in a deep, painful way.
adj.evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply affecting the emotions. Often describes artistic works, memories, or moments of transition.
“The movie's ending was very poignant.”
“Seeing his old childhood home in such a state of decay was a poignant reminder of how much time had passed.”
“The photograph of the empty classroom served as a poignant symbol of the community's loss following the sudden closure of the local school.”
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'become'.
“But perhaps the most poignant moment will be when the cortege passes through the streets on Saturday.”
“A beautiful, poignant, magical book for 9+, filled with love, grief and the natural world’s power to nurture hope.”
Common in books and culture writing
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.