piercing

1 of 2

adjective

pierc·​ing ˈpir-siŋ How to pronounce piercing (audio)
: penetrating: such as
a
: loud, shrill
piercing cries
b
: perceptive
piercing eyes
c
: penetratingly cold : biting
a piercing wind
d
: cutting, incisive
piercing sarcasm
piercingly adverb

piercing

2 of 2

noun

: a piece of jewelry (such as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh

Examples of piercing in a Sentence

Adjective She looked at me with piercing eyes, and I was suddenly frightened that she knew what I had done. I tried to avoid his piercing stare. She felt a piercing sadness when she heard the news. Noun There's a small shop in town where they do tattooing and body piercing. She got another ear piercing.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
My piercing call seemed absorbed by the heavy moisture, trapping even the echo I’d been accustomed to hearing. Jim Tschetter, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2025 This is a piercing and perceptive psychological thriller. Connie Ogle, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025
Noun
Here, the poetic and essential quality of her prose is at its purest, and at its most piercing, as Romano captures the essence of her life with her husband of five decades, Innocenzo Monti. Brian Robert Moore september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025 Also known as microdermal piercings or single-point piercings, dermal piercings lie flat against the skin and don't have a separate entry and exit point, per Byrdie. Catherine Santino, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for piercing

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piercing was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piercing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

piercing

1 of 2 adjective
pierc·​ing
: having the ability to enter, pierce, or penetrate: as
a
: loud and shrill
piercing screams
b
: perceptive, keen
a piercing glance
c
: very cold
a piercing wind
piercingly
ˈpir-siŋ-lē
adverb

piercing

2 of 2 noun
: a piece of jewelry (as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh

More from Merriam-Webster on piercing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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