piercing

1 of 2

adjective

pierc·​ing ˈpir-siŋ 

: 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

ˈpir-siŋ-lē 

adverb

piercing

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of piercing

Adjective

• biting
• bitter
• sharp
• penetrating

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

Adjective

Tyler, the Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass, ironically, is the least piercing and the most hedonistic, by design. —Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025

Streisand covered the emotionally piercing song the following year, and clever DJs around the country began splicing the two solo versions together. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 24 Dec. 2025

Noun

Liu’s smiley piercing has become part of her signature look, but health professionals want to make sure admiration doesn’t lead to uninformed decisions. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026

Liu’s story about piercing herself with a needle and a mirror may sound casual, but self-piercing in the mouth carries additional infection risk given the bacteria the ADA describes. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing piercing

• body piercing

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