poignant (adj.)
- absorbing
- acerbic
- acid
- acidulous
- acrid
- acrimonious
- acute
- affecting
- afflictive
- agitating
- agonizing
- astringent
- atrocious
- barbed
- biting
- bitter
- bleak
- blue
- caustic
- cheerless
- comfortless
- corrosive
- cruel
- cutting
- deep
- deplorable
- depressing
- depressive
- disastrous
- dismal
- dismaying
- distressful
- distressing
- disturbing
- dolorous
- double-edged
- dramatic
- dreary
- driving
- earnest
- edged
- effective
- emotional
- excruciating
- exquisite
- extreme
- fierce
- forceful
- forcible
- grave
- grievous
- gutsy
- hard
- harrowing
- harsh
- heartfelt
- hurtful
- imperative
- impressive
- incisive
- indelible
- intense
- irritating
- joyless
- keen
- lamentable
- lively
- melancholy
- miserable
- mordacious
- mordant
- mournful
- moving
- nervous
- painful
- paroxysmal
- pathetic
- penetrating
- peppery
- peppy
- perturbing
- piercing
- piquant
- piteous
- pitiable
- pitiful
- pointed
- powerful
- profound
- pungent
- racking
- racy
- regrettable
- rigorous
- rough
- rueful
- sad
- sarcastic
- sardonic
- scathing
- sensational
- severe
- sharp
- shooting
- sincere
- sinewy
- slashing
- snappy
- sore
- sorrowful
- sour
- sparkling
- spasmodic
- spicy
- spirited
- stabbing
- stinging
- stirring
- strident
- striking
- stringent
- strong
- tart
- telling
- torturous
- touching
- tragic
- trenchant
- uncomfortable
- upsetting
- vehement
- vigorous
- violent
- virulent
- vital
- vitriolic
- vivacious
- vivid
- woebegone
- woeful
- wretched
- zesty
