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
Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
On a separate platform to the right of the action, three male chanters sit in a neat row, next to men playing the shamisen, a stringed instrument with a raw and piercing tone which is often used in vocal accompaniment.
—Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Sara Ibrahim, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Her vocals were piercing, pretty and impressive — and that stage presence?
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Adjective
Some of the most piercing instances in Emilia’s journey rely on Audiard’s penchant for indelible imagery.
—Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
On a separate platform to the right of the action, three male chanters sit in a neat row, next to men playing the shamisen, a stringed instrument with a raw and piercing tone which is often used in vocal accompaniment.
—Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
Her movements were understated and free, her presence magnetic — graceful twirls one moment, piercing eye contact the next.
—Sara Ibrahim, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Her vocals were piercing, pretty and impressive — and that stage presence?
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for piercing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piercing
Adjective
-
Katy Perry is continuing to catch strays, this time from the most biting demographic of all: the pop girlie fandom.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
-
During the taping of a recent Netflix special, Kyle Dunnigan impersonated Musk onstage in a biting parody—the audience laughed, but Rogan sat mostly silent, avoiding eye contact, appearing unwilling to signal disloyalty to the tech mogul.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But due to noise from the venue next door, which was playing loud music amid a competing bar, Bruni bailed even after the musicians were assembled on stage.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
-
Literal flames surrounded the glow, both repelling and drawing you in more, followed by two loud, disorienting thumps.—
Christopher Rosa,
Glamour,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
The thermal conductivity of the lunar surface acts as a blanket and stops some of the sun’s heat from penetrating into the ground.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Every lifestyle guru worth watching has some uniquely irrepressible quality, from the Martha-like obsessiveness with which Gwyneth approaches wellness to Oprah’s talent for penetrating conversation.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Smith was convicted of fatally stabbing his estranged wife and her sons decades ago.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Brooks was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2017 for stabbing his girlfriend in Monroe County.—
Kate Holland,
ABC News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The harmony of flavors—including sweet tomatoes and cider, bitter radishes, spicy greens, umami Parmesan, and salty finishing flakes—kept me going back for bite after bite.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
-
These final years are sometimes treated as a lost period, because Twain’s writing grew bitter and cynical and unpalatable to those more interested in pleasing escapades.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sudden showers of beer, cider, and other mysterious fluids became as integral to the vibe as the deafening roar of the crowd.—
Andrew McNicol,
CNN,
22 Mar. 2025
-
But there’s no deafening scream of a Formula 1 race.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
This minimizes the risk of entering details on fraudulent websites and can alert you if a site doesn’t match what’s expected.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The reeling Heat put together a quality effort against the talented Celtics, entering halftime with the score tied at 50 and entering the fourth quarter trailing by just one point.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The group in the other vehicle surround Martinez between the two vehicles, with two people repeatedly punching her while a third person pulls her legs, taking her to the ground.—
Nathan Solis,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Dec. 2024
-
According to Hallman, Forrest-Stitt responded by allegedly assaulting him, punching him in the chest, hitting his mouth, and causing injuries, including a busted lip and a painful bicep injury.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piercing. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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