as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
an icy, penetrating rain that made you feel really miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in accessing
to go or come in or into
a needle penetrated the heavy canvas only with great effort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of penetrating
Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2023
Nachmanides takes a different approach and offers perhaps the most penetrating psychological insight.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2022
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Adjective
Those pictures are much more penetrating then the pictures of walls with bullet holes.
—Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2023
Nachmanides takes a different approach and offers perhaps the most penetrating psychological insight.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2022
Verb
The tannins in coffee are very good at penetrating porous ceramic (as well as our teeth) and leaving behind ugly brown stains.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetrating
Adjective
-
The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
-
There’s Bud the biting cat, played by a feline named Tonic and who deserves a three-picture deal.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Information reported in December that ByteDance has been accessing advanced Nvidia chips by renting them outside of China.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The village’s environment department is repairing treatment plants, restoring watersheds and working on accessing federal aid.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Seventeen years is pretty old for a bourbon, but in this case the whiskey is not overtaken by bitter tannic oak notes.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
-
But the most bitter had to be crooner Eddie Fisher, her fourth husband, who suffered the public humiliation of leaving his wife Debbie Reynolds for her (as well as their daughter Carrie), then getting dumped for Burton.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her jacket featured side lace-up details, while her pants had piercing-like details.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Even for ear piercing company Rowan, which also offers gold jewelry, the rapidly changing industry may be spelling trouble.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Dashcam Deals The Rove R2-4K Dual dash cam features 4K front and 1080p rear recording, giving you sharp coverage of everything happening around your car, day or night.—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Trump’s trade penalties are expected to be in sharp focus when global finance leaders and central bankers gather.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This is the first time that celebs like Tom Daley, Sir Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Paloma Faith, and Cat Burns are entering the castle.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
8 Oct. 2025
-
There’s a collective sense that fashion is entering a new phase — one defined by emotion, tactility and individuality.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penetrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetrating. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share