PIERCES Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

pierces

verb

present tense third-person singular of pierce

as in penetrates

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in drills

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stabs

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

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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 pierces An ice sculpture of a heart includes a tube through the ice arrow that pierces the heart. — Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 July 2026 And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old? — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026 Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear. — Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026 Its 1959 Googie-style sign pierces the sky, a beacon of hope for weary road-trippers cruising this achingly lonely stretch of highway. — Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026 Lower the heat to medium-high and cook, gently stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and a paring knife easily pierces a potato, about 15 minutes. — C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026 Because of the way the director works, emotions tend to be more discussed than felt, although there’s something about Carla’s desperation that pierces through all the soberness. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026 Nothing that pierces the skin should ever be used as leverage over a child's opportunity to education and to learn. — CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025 Nicole Kidman's stare pierces the room. — Jennifer Brett, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pierces

Verb

Each penetrates the skin at different layers to give multi-layered hydration.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Sunlight penetrates through the glass and bakes your interior.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 June 2026

Definition of penetrates

Verb

Kara talks her out of it, and when Ruthye walks away, Kara turns back to Krem and stabs him multiple times with a sword.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 June 2026
On cue, a Frey leaps out and stabs Robb’s pregnant wife Talisa (Oona Chaplin) in the stomach, and a volley of crossbow arrows lay into Robb and his friends.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026

Definition of stabs

Verb

Phil Mafah enters his second season fully healthy and with the momentum of a strong offseason in the eyes of his coaches.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Mack’s appointment represents the latest addition to the accomplished executive leadership team assembled by Vazquez as BKB enters its next phase of global growth.

— James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Definition of enters

Verb

As the officer is pinned down, one person repeatedly punches her in the head while another appears to strike her with an unidentified object before a second officer intervenes.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
Plus, the contrast stitching throughout both the top and shorts gives it a polished look that punches well above its $37 price tag.

— Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

Commentary and opinions In his latest column, Michael Hiltzik punctures the myth of Alan Greenspan, whose policies gave us the Great Recession.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
If a foreign object punctures the tread or sidewall, your tire can deflate slowly or quickly, depending on the puncture.

— Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026

Definition of punctures

Verb

Aura gathered information through its parental control app that accesses children's and parents' devices and through surveys with parents and children around the country.

— Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 19 June 2026
This suite is reached from a hall off the entry foyer, which also accesses the home’s second half bath.

— James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026

Definition of accesses

Verb

Upgrade a Laundry Room Vent holes in a laundry room might call to mind a traditional airing cupboard, but perhaps counterintuitively, that term actually refers to a heated cupboard for keeping towels dry rather than one in which air freely circulates.

— Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2026
Caulk holes around plumbing and sewer lines where roaches are likely to enter.

— Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 4 June 2026

Definition of holes

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“Pierces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pierces. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of pierces

verb

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