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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of piercing
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
My piercing call seemed absorbed by the heavy moisture, trapping even the echo I’d been accustomed to hearing.
—Jim Tschetter, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2025
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Day and night, smartphones deliver a tone, piercing enough to start dogs trembling, alerting us to incoming missiles or drones.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Adjective
And on Saturday, another bout with foul trouble left him with a permanently piercing scowl.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
My piercing call seemed absorbed by the heavy moisture, trapping even the echo I’d been accustomed to hearing.
—Jim Tschetter, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
When the medic suggested stitches, Green suggested piercing the bandage up with a stud — or throwing some Elmer’s glue on it.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Day and night, smartphones deliver a tone, piercing enough to start dogs trembling, alerting us to incoming missiles or drones.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piercing
Adjective
-
Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After a steal and dunk by Reed put UConn back up by six, Huskies coach Dan Hurley began waving his arms wildly at the fans behind his bench, exhorting them to be louder.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In order to make sure horses keep their cool among loud, unpredictable crowds, officers do desensitization training with speakers, sirens, inflatable tube men, kazoos, fireworks, flags and all manner of annoyances.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Made with 93% natuarally extracted snail secretion, this daily moisturizer provides deep-penetrating hydration and is excellent for strengthening the skin barrier.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Wood floors with surface finishes stand up better to more aggressive cleaning and water, while penetrating finishes require a lighter touch and minimal moisture.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Refineries differ somewhat from drilling in that they are partly concentrated in Texas (Houston, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, and Dallas) but also have a large presence in Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Bellingham, Wash.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
End-to-end rush, fabulous deke on the goaltender, drilling it home with the net bulging as instant proof.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Two teenagers are facing charges in connection to a Hackensack, New Jersey, stabbing that sent one of them to the hospital.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
According to Prescott, Walker appeared intent on stabbing the policeman before he was shot.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lang plays the antagonist, a bitter Alpine waiter whose family recipe for Grappa involves alchemy and witchcraft.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
-
It's been three months since a ceasefire ended bitter border fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, but signs of combat are cut deep in this 11th-century temple atop a 525-meter (1,722-foot) cliff in the Dangrek Mountain range.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That didn’t stop the Chicago Blackhawks from giving Bears coach Ben Johnson a shoutout — one that was met with a deafening roar from the United Center.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
That exchange incited a deafening roar from the more than 10,000 fans in attendance.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The jury found that the trooper and another radioed a false location to headquarters before entering the apartment, and one of them decided to plant a gun at the scene afterward before his partner persuaded him against it.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The war has continued escalating since, with Israel Defense Forces troops entering southern Lebanon at the beginning of a ground invasion, an operation that looks certain to expand.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piercing. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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