1
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
that light sweater will be no match for the piercing wind outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loud
marked by a high volume of sound
the frightened child emitted a piercing shriek that could be heard all over the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in penetrating
to go or come in or into
thoughts of revenge relentlessly pierced her mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drilling
to make a hole or series of holes in
pierced his ears with a needle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
the saber pierced his chest, releasing a spurt of blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of piercing
Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2025
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
David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
The ongoing investigation, led by Reisig, is sprawling, involving dozens of search warrants and arrests in Los Angeles County and Crescent City aimed at piercing the black-market world of fireworks that fueled the blast.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Adjective
Its piercing alarm is activated with the simple press of a button, which also turns on flashing strobe lights.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
But tungsten prices are particularly volatile during wartime – it’s used in armor-piercing artillery.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
The ongoing investigation, led by Reisig, is sprawling, involving dozens of search warrants and arrests in Los Angeles County and Crescent City aimed at piercing the black-market world of fireworks that fueled the blast.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piercing
Adjective
-
Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Sometimes the world is just too busy and loud!—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Like tens of thousands across the country, Steve Kerr is a loud and proud supporter of his alma mater during March Madness.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Epic Fury opened with the most exquisite tools available—stealth bombers, stealth fighters, electronic attack, cyberwar, long-range cruise missiles and penetrating munitions.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Geophysics experts caution that ground-penetrating radar typically only resolves features a few meters below the surface — not the depths Biondi’s theory requires.—
Ryan Brennan
April 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, there is a need to build geothermal plants in non-seismic, nonvolcanic areas of the world for drilling and reaching deeper geothermal resources.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The price surge also has had political ramifications for oil production in California, with Trump invoking a Cold War-era law to force the controversial resumption of offshore drilling in the Golden State, citing the need to bolster domestic oil production for national security purposes.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
She is accused of stabbing a pregnant woman outside in the parking lot of the Harris Teeter in Cotswold on March 18.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In 2013 she was convicted of manslaughter in the stabbing death of her boyfriend.—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Coming in tandem with currently skyrocketing oil prices and new sets of tariffs imposed by the president to replace the earlier ones, this situation is an especially bitter pill for low-income and even average families whose budgets are already stressed.—
Robert Hormats,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Hemp vs marijuana The hemp industry and the licensed marijuana industry have been in a bitter battle.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Records say the sound created a deafening roar across Copenhagen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The incessant sales pitches are buffeted by the usual deafening pounding music, which makes Vin Scully Avenue seem like Las Vegas Boulevard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The tightening of the reins in the British Mandate for Palestine comes as Adolf Hitler and Germany invade Poland, triggering the beginnings of World War II, and as Jewish refugees fleeing persecution begin entering the region.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piercing. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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