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

Streisand covered the emotionally piercing song the following year, and clever DJs around the country began splicing the two solo versions together. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 24 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

The documentary feature Noga, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival last month and is currently making the film-festival rounds, is as piercing as that shriek. — Marisa Fox, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026

For the university, Jackson wrote, the loss was more than monetary, piercing the confidence the public places in public libraries. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 15 July 2026