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

And somehow, though a mother’s grief has got to be the most piercing emotion in the world, what Mescal tells us about a man’s grief ends up having more weight. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 27 Nov. 2025

And on Saturday, another bout with foul trouble left him with a permanently piercing scowl. —Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

Noun

Hummingbird Fine Jewelry & Piercing, a sister location to Enigma Professional Piercing Studios, offers gold and implant-grade titanium jewelry for ear and body piercings. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025

That's what the piercing of the aura of invincibility looks like. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2025

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