Synonyms of piercing

piercing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpir-siŋ 

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

• biting
• bitter
• sharp
• penetrating
• stinging
• brisk
• cutting
• keen
• raw
• shrewd
• smarting
• caustic
• corrosive
• needlelike
• invigorating
• snappy
• tingling
• prickly
• nippy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mild
• gentle
• soothing
• balmy

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

• loud
• deafening
• ringing
• roaring
• blasting
• thunderous
• shrill
• thundering
• booming
• sonorous
• earsplitting
• stentorian
• blaring
• noisy
• plangent
• clangorous
• resounding
• clamorous
• brazen
• slam-bang
• raucous
• vociferous
• discordant
• harsh
• strident
• grating
• obstreperous
• sharp
• dinning
• rip-roaring
• squealing
• overloud

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gentle
• low
• soft
• silent
• quiet
• dead
• still
• soothing
• calm
• peaceful
• serene
• tranquil
• dreamy
• restful
• muffled
• ultraquiet
• softened
• toned (down)
• muted
• hushed
• stilly

piercing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pierce

1

as in penetrating

to go or come in or into

thoughts of revenge relentlessly pierced her mind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• penetrating
• entering
• accessing
• stepping into
• invading
• setting foot in
• bursting (in or into)
• waltzing (in)
• dropping in
• popping (in)
• encroaching
• infiltrating
• wandering (into)
• intruding
• barging (in)
• breezing (in)
• trespassing
• straying (into)
• infringing
• gate-crashing
• crashing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leaving
• departing
• exiting

2

as in drilling

to make a hole or series of holes in

pierced his ears with a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drilling
• punching
• puncturing
• poking
• perforating
• riddling
• penetrating
• tapping
• boring
• cutting
• holing
• pricking
• prickling
• slashing
• broaching
• breaking
• splitting
• excavating
• gouging
• grooving
• slitting
• rending
• hollowing
• rupturing
• burrowing (into)
• notching
• gashing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filling
• sealing
• plugging
• patching

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

• stabbing
• puncturing
• jabbing
• picking
• sticking
• pecking
• spitting
• lancing
• spearing
• transfixing
• impaling
• slicing
• poking
• harpooning
• skewering
• punching
• spiking
• pinking
• running through
• goring
• transpiercing
• perforating
• cutting
• pricking
• riddling
• spindling
• thrusting
• bayoneting
• knifing
• quilling
• gimleting
• pronging
• dirking
• pinpricking
• poniarding
• piking

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of 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

Bauer, who was working in uniform, was shot twice — with one of the bullets piercing his heart — during a robbery at Kislak National Bank, 13490 NW Seventh Ave. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

Elizabeth D’Aiuto, who plays Marian, the librarian of this small Iowa town who captures the roving eye of traveling salesman and con man Harold Hill (Elliott Andrews), has a piercing soprano that many an opera singer would envy. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026