penetrating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpe-nə-ˌtrā-tiŋ How to pronounce penetrating (audio)
Definition of penetratingnext
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

penetrating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of penetrate
as in accessing
to go or come in or into a needle penetrated the heavy canvas only with great effort

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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
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
No one admits to having asked a bad question in polite company, yet the difference between a superficial inquiry and a penetrating one often determines whether a company merely iterates or genuinely transforms. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Until now, the search for possible graves had been limited to what could be seen beneath the surface using ground-penetrating radar. — Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetrating
  1. biting
  2. accessing
  3. bitter
  4. piercing
  5. sharp
  6. entering
Adjective
  • The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
Definition of biting
Verb
  • After launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia managed to occupy all of the Ukrainian land that surrounds the Sea of Azov, preventing Kyiv from accessing it.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • All of these flights launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, as the Russian Soyuz vehicle offered the US space agency its only means of accessing orbit.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Definition of accessing
Adjective
  • More than a month into the start of the tournament, one Italian friend still feels bitter over the fate of his beloved Azzurri, who didn’t qualify this year.
    — Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Sutton’s bitter lesson is applicable to biology because so much of the human body — not just the mind — is still beyond our understanding.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of bitter
Verb
  • Collins can’t make the same pivot without piercing the brand that carried him this far.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • The documentary feature Noga, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival last month and is currently making the film-festival rounds, is as piercing as that shriek.
    — Marisa Fox, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
Definition of piercing
Adjective
  • Not that the knives are sharp enough to cut the tension Angela describes in the room.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • The sharp lyrics and title are embodied in the music itself, most notably in the relentless rhythm section, which reflects the endless pursuit of conformity and ambition that Smith criticizes.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026
Definition of sharp
Verb
  • Check with lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Some customers were entering their bank's name there and typing its address instead of their home address, which caused payments to fail.
    — Polina Chebanova, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of entering

Browse Nearby Words

penetrates
penetrating
penetration
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Cite this Entry

“Penetrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetrating. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on penetrating

Nglish: Translation of penetrating for Spanish Speakers

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