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

Fans were quick to criticize Kardashian for letting North get the piercing, with many saying that the tween is too young for a dermal piercing, which some say can be more painful and prone to infection than other types of piercings. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026

For one, dermal piercings aren’t as inherently dangerous as West’s critics would like to believe. —Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 14 Jan. 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