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
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Recent Examples of penetrating
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
There’s always been a conspiratorial smokiness in their singing, a crackle of long nights and bleary mornings penetrating their drawl.
—
Brad Sanders,
Pitchfork,
26 June 2026
Overhead lights flip on, penetrating her skull like three angry white eyes.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Commercial grout cleaners can be more effective than DIY solutions since these cleaners have a higher concentration of penetrating chemicals.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Verb
On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office began using ground-penetrating radar to search the soil at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna for carcasses.
—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
There’s always been a conspiratorial smokiness in their singing, a crackle of long nights and bleary mornings penetrating their drawl.
—
Brad Sanders,
Pitchfork,
26 June 2026
Overhead lights flip on, penetrating her skull like three angry white eyes.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Commercial grout cleaners can be more effective than DIY solutions since these cleaners have a higher concentration of penetrating chemicals.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetrating
Adjective
-
So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods.
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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.
Verb
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The budget also removes some barriers to accessing care for families.
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First, Alberto Freites Arvilla would unplug the ATM and use a bezel key to open its hood, accessing the inside of the machine while Luis Freites Arvilla stood watch.
Adjective
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But to pay that extra and miss out on one of Samsung’s best hardware inventions in years would be a bitter pill to swallow.
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Many Lebanese also have bitter memories of the decades of Syrian occupation of Lebanon, which began during the Lebanese civil war, initially at the request of Lebanese authorities and with the backing of Arab states, ending in 2005.
Verb
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On the other hand, however, take a step back and the world-building is jaw-dropping; on a big screen, Rogue Trooper is almost overwhelming, and Barnard becomes an almost godlike presence by the end with his piercing white eyes (don’t worry, it’s explained).
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If discovering tiny insect casings or sticky residue, this often indicates those insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts that slowly siphon sap from plants, depleting their ability to feed themselves through photosynthesis.
Adjective
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Tourism in Albania has seen a sharp increase in recent years, with people relishing the nation’s vast, undeveloped coastline.
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Netanyahu, 76, has spent decades mastering political theater, sharp messaging and grand performances.
Verb
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The shortstop had just 14 RBIs in his previous 48 games entering Tuesday.
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After making the playoffs, the Sabres are entering a window of contention, so that pick could be in play as part of another deal.
Cite this Entry
“Penetrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetrating. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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