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Definition of piercing
: penetrating: such asa : loud, shrill piercing criesb : perceptive piercing eyesc : penetratingly cold : biting a piercing windd : cutting, incisive piercing sarcasm
From the M-W Editors
Examples of piercing in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of piercing from the Web
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One of the first instances of body art practitioners asking to be regulated was in Florida, where a piercing law was enacted in 1999 with input from the industry.
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More muscles and more lustrous hair and more piercing eyes.
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But Cornell still emerged as one of alternative-rock’s ultimate heartthrobs for his long, curly hair, fondness for going shirtless and piercing eyes.
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But his piercing skill was enough to instill fear in the Panamanian soccer team, which responded with brute force in a 1-1 draw with the United States on Tuesday night.
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In addition to airing some of the most piercing comedic satire going about our new president, Donald Trump, Saturday Night Live has also gotten very smart about who gets invited to host.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'piercing'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of piercing
14th century
piercing
Definition of piercing
: a piece of jewelry (such as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh
Examples of piercing in a Sentence
There's a small shop in town where they do tattooing and body piercing.
She got another ear piercing.
Recent Examples of piercing from the Web
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His groundbreaking play AC/DC, which premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1970 and opened in New York the following year, concluded with a trepanation - the piercing of a character's skull.
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My husband stood stoically a few feet away, hunched over the exam table, gently nuzzling our tiny two-week-old son as, to his piercing shrieks, the technician drew vial after vial of blood.
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Trump told the basketballer, who was wearing his trademark sunglasses and adorned with piercings.
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The state's share of the 6.25 percent sales tax would be extended to a handful of services not currently covered, such as tattoos and piercings.
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And people, refreshingly, were being themselves: tatts, piercings, long-haired guys, swearing at each other and a mixed-sex environment, not just blokes.
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The negative space designs range from intricate florals to simple, minimalist lines that mimic the look of a piercing.
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Toddlers dodged table legs, while a teenager with blue hair and multiple piercings kissed another in a leopard-skin coat.
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The subjects age and transform, their piercings multiply or disappear, their flesh goes from taut and unmarked to weathered and increasingly crowded with tattoos.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'piercing'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of piercing
1977
PIERCING Defined for English Language Learners
piercing
playDefinition of piercing for English Language Learners
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: seeming to have the power to see a person's thoughts or feelings
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: very loud and high-pitched
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: having a strong affect on someone : felt in a very noticeable way
piercing
Definition of piercing for English Language Learners
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: the act or practice of decorating your body with jewelry or other objects that are attached directly to your skin
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: a hole through part of the body where a piece of jewelry can be attached
PIERCING Defined for Kids
piercing
Definition of piercing for Students
1 : able to penetrate a piercing wind a piercing look
2 : loud and high-pitched piercing cries
Learn More about piercing
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for piercing Nglish: Translation of piercing for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of piercing for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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