PIERCED Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

pierced

verb

Definition of pierced

past tense of pierce

as in penetrated

to go or come in or into thoughts of revenge relentlessly pierced her mind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in drilled

to make a hole or series of holes in pierced his ears with a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stabbed

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object the saber pierced his chest, releasing a spurt of blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pierced Even Good’s maroon Honda Pilot, the windshield pierced by Ross’s bullet, was bundled away by the FBI into a storage facility before state law enforcement could get a look at it. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026 Lower the heat to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are just slightly tender when pierced with a fork or knife. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026 After the game, Tillman showed up at the press area without shoes on, his sock bloodied where a defender’s cleat had pierced his boot. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 2 July 2026 First responders found the woman conscious and alert after an umbrella stake pierced her shoulder. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 Because of the bullets that pierced his mother, he was deprived of blood and oxygen for critical minutes just prior to his birth. — Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026 There’s pierced and studded flip-flops, which are my personal favorite, colorful jellies, funky fish-flops (yes, really), and dressier styles in summer-ready raffia wedges and minimalist-friendly kitten heels. — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 22 June 2026 Players like Charlie Sifford (first Black player to earn a PGA Tour card), Lee Elder (first Black player in the Masters) and Calvin Peete (12 wins on the PGA Tour) are on the short list of African-Americans who pierced golf's racial barrier. — ABC News, 17 June 2026 Once the water boils, add the florets and cook until the largest pieces can be easily pierced with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes. — Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pierced

Verb

While most of that warming occurs near the surface, measurements show heat has also penetrated to depths of roughly 3,000 meters over recent decades.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Ivory Coast has penetrated the box a bit more, but both sides have just one shot and zero on target.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026

Definition of penetrated

Verb

If that weren’t enough, after Toronto made a hoop, Salaun drilled another triple to clinch the win, putting her thumb and two fingers in the air on her way back down the court.

— Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Gauff drilled her footwork, working to optimize her explosive speed for a slippery surface on which hard stops and aggressive sprinting can often backfire.

— Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of drilled

Verb

Jordan Harbst was riding his scooter along the Greenbelt when 41-year-old Ross Wardlaw allegedly stepped into his path and stabbed him to death, according to previous Statesman reporting.

— Carolyn Komatsoulis Updated July 13, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026
Aziel Zacapala, the Rosemead High School student who was fatally stabbed in El Monte on Friday, July 10, 2026.

— Lauren Pozen, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Definition of stabbed

Verb

Tensions continued between Brigham and Women’s Hospital nurses and management as the work stoppage entered its second day.

— Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 10 July 2026
In February, the board pivoted and entered negotiations with Sunrise Senior Living, whose proposal is more profitable, has a faster timeline and provides more space for community amenities, according to the district.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of entered

Verb

Agents test the packages, but the sheriff’s office said the one found Wednesday was punctured and tainted by saltwater.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
But even in the midst of those surges, the visible dissent of people such as Renee Good and Alex Pretti punctured that fantasy.

— Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Definition of punctured

Verb

After a scrappy passage of play in which Morocco failed to clear their lines, Desire Doue poked a loose ball to Mbappe on the left edge of the area.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 July 2026
But Ecuador’s Gonzalo Plata stuck up his left foot, just in front of Neuer, and poked the ball into the net.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 June 2026

Definition of poked

Browse Nearby Words

pierce

pierced

pierces

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pierced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pierced. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pierced

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on pierced

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

bibelot

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes