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
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, Envision, also due for a 2031 launch, will carry an orbital ground-penetrating radar to provide a complete view of Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Feb. 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
Olivier’s penetrating eyes say what his words can’t.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, Envision, also due for a 2031 launch, will carry an orbital ground-penetrating radar to provide a complete view of Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for penetrating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetrating
Adjective
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The Chill Factor Perhaps the most biting statistic of the season so far is the temperature.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Why usage is growing The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimated that the number of transactions processed by these providers grew by over 90% from 2021 to 2022, with more than 7 million workers accessing approximately $22 billion in 2022.—
Cheryl Winokur Munk,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2026
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The Florida Department of Health issued emergency rules Wednesday that will block thousands of Floridians from accessing their HIV medication.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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During that window, sour and bitter foods can taste sweet, making meals more tolerable.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
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The concept was revived by Olympic officials and the United Nations in the early 1990s, as bitter conflicts raged in the Balkans.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Still, when my plane’s turn came, the takeoff was as exhilarating as ever—the low rumble and rising thrum, the smooth detachment and sudden lift, and then the surge through clouds into a piercing blue sky.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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Attacks on other Gulf states Qatar and Bahrain also came under attack, piercing the kingdoms’ polished image as luxurious havens in an unstable region.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Berkshire reported a sharp decline in operating earnings for the fourth quarter, driven largely by weakness in its insurance business.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2026
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This sea of sharp buttes and sky-high pinnacles offers numerous west-facing vantage points.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This step provides transparency before entering a long-term advisory relationship.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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The spinoff came on the heels of Suits entering the zeitgeist in 2023.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Penetrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetrating. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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