penetrating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpe-nə-ˌtrā-tiŋ How to pronounce penetrating (audio)
Definition of penetratingnext
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin an icy, penetrating rain that made you feel really miserable

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

penetrating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of penetrate
as in accessing
to go or come in or into a needle penetrated the heavy canvas only with great effort

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penetrating
Adjective
Those pictures are much more penetrating then the pictures of walls with bullet holes. — Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2023 Nachmanides takes a different approach and offers perhaps the most penetrating psychological insight. — Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2022
Verb
No one admits to having asked a bad question in polite company, yet the difference between a superficial inquiry and a penetrating one often determines whether a company merely iterates or genuinely transforms. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Until now, the search for possible graves had been limited to what could be seen beneath the surface using ground-penetrating radar. — Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetrating
  1. biting
  2. accessing
  3. bitter
  4. piercing
  5. sharp
  6. entering
Adjective
  • The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
Definition of biting
Verb
  • After launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia managed to occupy all of the Ukrainian land that surrounds the Sea of Azov, preventing Kyiv from accessing it.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • All of these flights launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, as the Russian Soyuz vehicle offered the US space agency its only means of accessing orbit.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Definition of accessing
Adjective
  • These models are typically not trained on or constrained by explicit physics rules, data, or simulations—remember, the bitter lesson.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
  • The increasingly bitter contest will be among the next races where progressive candidates are facing more moderate rivals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Definition of bitter
Verb
  • Granite cliffs piercing the sea and the sky are Acadia National Park’s most recognizable feature.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Her flat, piercing groundstrokes and booming serve are perfect for grass, and defending champion Świątek will need to calm down her serving roller coaster to stay in touch.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of piercing
Adjective
  • In addition to the sharp shape, the coffee brown shade gives the bag a more elevated feel.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • During male puberty, rising testosterone drives the cartilage to grow forward and meet at a sharper angle, while simultaneously lengthening the vocal folds and vocal tract housed just behind it.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of sharp
Verb
  • Check with lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Some customers were entering their bank's name there and typing its address instead of their home address, which caused payments to fail.
    — Polina Chebanova, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of entering

Browse Nearby Words

penetrates
penetrating
penetration
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Cite this Entry

“Penetrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetrating. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of penetrating for Spanish Speakers

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