List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 246

SYNONYMS: moving, stirring, poignant, touching, pathetic, affecting.
These adjectives mean arousing or capable of arousing deep, usually somber emotion.

Moving is the least specific: A widow has laid her case of destitution before him in a very moving letter.
Something stirring excites strong, turbulent, but not unpleasant feelings, as of inspiration: An advocate for the homeless gave a stirring speech about their plight.
Poignant suggests the evocation of keen, painful emotion: Poignant grief cannot endure forever.
Touching emphasizes sympathy or tenderness: Her expression of gratitude was simple and touching.
Pathetic stresses pity and compassion: The old, rather shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic.
Affecting applies especially to what is heart-rending or bittersweet: The homecoming of the hostages and their reunion with their families was an affecting scene.