penetrating
adjective
pen·e·trat·ing
ˈpe-nə-ˌtrā-tiŋ 
1
: having the power of entering, piercing, or pervading
a penetrating shriek
2
: acute, discerning
penetrating insights into life
Synonyms
Examples of penetrating in a Sentence
She is one of our most penetrating and provocative critical thinkers.
an author famous for her penetrating social commentary
a penetrating account of what really happened during the crisis
flowers that give off a penetrating perfume
Recent Examples on the Web
Since the war began in Gaza, more than six months ago, the Israeli magazine +972 has published some of the most penetrating reporting on the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct.
—
Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
Those pictures are much more penetrating then the pictures of walls with bullet holes.
—Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2023
Berne’s fifth novel is an ever-deepening story of past deeds blighting the present, and it’s a penetrating study of family relationships crippled by secrets.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 28 Dec. 2022
Kamitani is one of the world’s leading experts on the visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes what the eyes see, and fMRI is one of his most penetrating instruments.
—Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2019
See all Example Sentences for penetrating 
Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
Those pictures are much more penetrating then the pictures of walls with bullet holes.
—Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2023
Berne’s fifth novel is an ever-deepening story of past deeds blighting the present, and it’s a penetrating study of family relationships crippled by secrets.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 28 Dec. 2022
Kamitani is one of the world’s leading experts on the visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes what the eyes see, and fMRI is one of his most penetrating instruments.
—Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2019
See all Example Sentences for penetrating
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penetrating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near penetrating
Cite this Entry
“Penetrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penetrating. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
penetrating
adjective
pen·e·trat·ing
: having the power of entering, piercing, or pervading
treat hemorrhage from both penetrating injury and blunt trauma—The Journal of the American Medical Association
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