Poignant
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: sharp-pointed; keen. incisive; penetrating neat; eloquent; applicable; relevant Evoking strong mental sensation, to the point of distress; emotionally moving piquant, pungent piercing inducing sharp physical pain
Example sentence: I find it amusing on one level, poignant on another, when people try to get recognition from an outside source. It's sad.
Painful
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Full of pain; causing hurt, uneasiness or distress, either physical or mental; afflictive; disquieting; distressing.Requiring effort, labor or toil; difficult; executed with laborious effort; as a painful service; a painful march.Painstaking; careful; industrious
Example sentence: Never give up on your dreams, no matter how painful and difficult your journey is.