1
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
that light sweater will be no match for the piercing wind outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loud
marked by a high volume of sound
the frightened child emitted a piercing shriek that could be heard all over the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in penetrating
to go or come in or into
thoughts of revenge relentlessly pierced her mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drilling
to make a hole or series of holes in
pierced his ears with a needle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
the saber pierced his chest, releasing a spurt of blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of piercing
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2025
Its piercing alarm is activated with the simple press of a button, which also turns on flashing strobe lights.
—
Kristy Alpert,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Nov. 2025
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
According to Sadriu, the firearm, which was allegedly loaded with armor-piercing ammunition, was seized as evidence.
—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Adjective
Tyler, the Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass, ironically, is the least piercing and the most hedonistic, by design.
—
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2025
Its piercing alarm is activated with the simple press of a button, which also turns on flashing strobe lights.
—
Kristy Alpert,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
Telefone, the piercing 2016 breakout debut from Noname, turns ten this year, and the Chicago rapper is celebrating it with a late-summer anniversary trek.
—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
According to Sadriu, the firearm, which was allegedly loaded with armor-piercing ammunition, was seized as evidence.
—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piercing
Adjective
-
So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods.
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.
Adjective
-
The Brookhaven City Council unanimously approved a 40% hike in the city’s property tax rate earlier this week over loud opposition from some residents.
-
The equalizer was exactly what Ecuador’s fans needed to get loud, roaring with joy after Germany's early lead was cut.
Verb
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Neusch was acutely aware of nerve-equivalent impulses reporting the beam penetrating the light armor, searing the bio-andy’s hip and thigh.
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On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office began using ground-penetrating radar to search the soil at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna for carcasses.
Verb
-
The goal scorer then took an artful first touch before drilling it home.
-
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell told CNBC on June 12, when the company went public, that SpaceX planned to build pipelines and process its own propellant, and was looking into drilling its own natural gas.
Verb
-
Ditto for the subsequent scene of young Santa stabbing her mother to death.
-
Harrison Jamal Greer, 54, is charged with murder after allegedly stabbing and killing a man.
Adjective
-
Looking for a silver lining Some analysts fear that the friction over the 250th celebrations, especially the national ones, may end up reinforcing the nation's bitter divide rather than providing a respite from it.
-
This inverts the usual analysis of American politics, that our bitter culture wars will always resolve down to questions like affordability.
Adjective
-
The bear was almost on top of us when, with a deafening roar, the shot from both barrels smacked into that enormous shaggy head.
-
That doesn’t mean the Avs can’t enjoy themselves, feel pride in an accomplishment or revel in the deafening roar when MacKinnon fired the perfect shot at the perfect time.
Verb
-
The shortstop had just 14 RBIs in his previous 48 games entering Tuesday.
-
After making the playoffs, the Sabres are entering a window of contention, so that pick could be in play as part of another deal.
Cite this Entry
“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piercing. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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