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Poignant vs Fierce - What's the difference?

poignant | fierce | Related terms |

Poignant is a related term of fierce.


As adjectives the difference between poignant and fierce

is that poignant is (obsolete|of a weapon etc) sharp-pointed; keen while fierce is extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage.

poignant

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (obsolete, of a weapon etc) Sharp-pointed; keen.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , VII:
    • His siluer shield, now idle maisterlesse; / His poynant speare, that many made to bleed [...].
  • Incisive; penetrating.
    • His comments were poignant and witty.
  • 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.
  • (figuratively, of a taste or smell) Piquant, pungent.
  • Piercing.
  • (dated, mostly British) Inducing sharp physical pain.

    • Synonyms

    * (evoking strong mental sensation) distressing, moving

    Related terms

    * poignancy

    References

    * OED 2nd edition 1989 * Webster Third New International 1986 ----

    fierce

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage.
    • A fierce storm battered the coast.
  • Resolute or strenuously active.
    • We made a fierce attempt to escape.
  • Threatening in appearance or demeanor.
    • The lion gave a fierce roar.
  • (slang, Ireland, rural) very, excellent.
    • It was fierce cold.
    Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce !"
  • (slang, US) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah.
    • Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce .

    Derived terms

    * something fierce

    Anagrams

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