as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
an icy, penetrating rain that made you feel really miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
The association plans to use ground-penetrating radar surveys to estimate the number of people buried in the cemetery.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
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
Parkinson said advances in ground-penetrating radar and other technology over the past 25 years prompted this most recent search for Smart’s remains.
—Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
The association plans to use ground-penetrating radar surveys to estimate the number of people buried in the cemetery.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetrating
Adjective
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
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The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to a report, participation in adult learning remains limited, with only around 40% of adults engaging in any form of learning each year, while cost and time constraints remain among the most significant barriers to accessing training opportunities.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Previously, Shepherd said accessing the waterfalls took some climbing and difficult movements that prevented people with disabilities from attending events.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sara Duterte and President Marcos were running mates in a whirlwind alliance in the 2022 election but have since had a bitter falling out.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Another defeat and the same bitter taste of Thunder second-half dominance.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Thawing ice along a riverbank, the shallows capturing the reflection of one of the grandchildren; the burning flame of a wick disappearing into a birthday cake; the deep, dark tunnel of a fleeting set of train tracks, as piercing as the endless blue eyes of the toddler in the diptych beside it.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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This tank, more than any of its Allied counterparts, sent German designers back to the drawing board to produce the next generation of tanks that featured heavier armor and higher-velocity cannons with greater range and armor-piercing capability.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Quince consistently delivers with airy linens, crisp cottons, and silhouettes that look sharp right out of a suitcase.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
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Wallstedt was sharp from the get-go Saturday, including buoying the Wild in killing the two first-period Avalanche power plays.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Before entering high school, Andrew’s Sean Gagen had a choice to make.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
The 6-8 Barlow, who averaged just under nine postseason minutes per game off the bench entering Game 2, totaled 16 minutes Wednesday.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penetrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetrating. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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