pierce

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pierce differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pierce are enter, penetrate, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When might enter be a better fit than pierce?

While the synonyms enter and pierce are close in meaning, enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

When is penetrate a more appropriate choice than pierce?

While in some cases nearly identical to pierce, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

Where would probe be a reasonable alternative to pierce?

The synonyms probe and pierce are sometimes interchangeable, but probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

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 pierce But the show's greatest asset is its stars, whose endearing real-life friendship pierces through the play’s inherent despair. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025 Sharp cracks of gunfire pierced the morning air, loud, jarring pangs that echoed off the concrete. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025 Police have said there were people inside the ABC10 offices when three gunshots pierced a window on the north side of the building. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025 That would be a point at which the Fed could be expected to start raising interest rates in order to pierce an economic bubble. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pierce
Verb
  • Blue light targets acne-causing bacteria to help keep breakouts at bay, while red and near-infrared wavelengths penetrate deeper to stimulate collagen, improve circulation, and promote skin repair.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Once in the stomach, the larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and migrate to the skin.
    Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While cracks and surface defects caused by traffic and environmental stress are easy to spot, detecting micro-cracks and damage in the lower layers still requires drilling and extracting core samples.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Drill and drill adjacent artists like G Herbo and Lil Durk at time reflect the traumatic toll of the streets; artists like Chance and noname provide a sober-eyed view of the external fallout.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The admission came the day after two Jewish worshipers were killed and three others seriously injured in a car ramming and stabbing attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Manchester suburb of Crumpsall on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
    Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • One of the victims had been stabbed several times in the head and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.
    Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Broncos had been 1-112 when trailing by 14 or more points when entering the fourth quarter on the road, according to CBS.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, the team finds itself in a horror show with the Sword of Damocles hanging over it entering a Week 5 battle with the Houston Texans.
    Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bubba purposefully knocks a girl down with a dodgeball, and when Mary tells him to stop being mean, Bubba punches her.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • While they were lined up, members put on boxing gloves and took turns punching the pledges four times in the chest, according to the petition.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And, in the process, the trio of ’70s babies punctured the myth that rap is a young man’s sport.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Tyrone Taylor’s three RBIs had punctured Spencer Schwellenbach, and Peterson took a 4-1 lead into the eighth having retired 11 of the last 12.
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • His size and demeanor are perfect for wrangling crowds and looking over heads at Titans games to see if people are trying to access vehicles in the parking lot, officers say.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • While the government is shut down, employers cannot access their E-Verify accounts or access customer support services, according to an E-Verify statement.
    David Ulloa Jr, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Cowboys poked a hole in the Jets’ balloon after the Hall fumble.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • An alligator’s head could be seen poking out of the water just a few feet away as Whaley prepared to take his shot, but the 30-year-old quickly brought the ball back onto dry land and escaped with par on the 11th green.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pierce. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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