as in sharply
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Recent Examples of piercingly
In the opening keynote, president of public broadcaster Arte France Bruno Patino provided a bleak yet piercingly precise evaluation of the industry today.
—
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
His lashes are long, the eyes deep-set, large and intense, staring piercingly into you.
—Touré, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
How could the woman who wrote so piercingly about women’s subjugation subjugate herself to not just one but two men?
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
His lashes are long, the eyes deep-set, large and intense, staring piercingly into you.
—Touré, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
How could the woman who wrote so piercingly about women’s subjugation subjugate herself to not just one but two men?
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for piercingly
Adverb
-
Fidesz, whose popularity dropped sharply in the aftermath of the passage of the new constitution, was reëlected with parliamentary super-majorities in the next two elections, in 2014 and 2018, despite receiving less than fifty per cent of the vote.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the narrow Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.—
Rio Yamat,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The series poignantly addresses the complexities of teenage struggles, particularly through Justin’s undiagnosed ADHD and Keisha’s experience of trauma, emphasizing the importance of unconditional support and the intersection of mental health with race and class in today’s world.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
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Each episode begins, almost mid-sentence, with narration that’s equal parts poignantly philosophic and absurdly, randomly juvenile.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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While the broader consequences of this upheaval extend beyond any single sector, fashion is among the industries expected to feel the impact most acutely.—
Andre Claudio,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2026
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So far, the shortage is being felt most acutely in South Korea and Taiwan.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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In episode three, Mary judges Eleanor pretty harshly for her choices with Robert.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
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In the latest dustup over a groundbreaking HIV prevention medicine, Doctors Without Borders has harshly criticized the manufacturer for refusing to sell its treatment directly to humanitarian organizations.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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While the Tuscan setting provided its own kind of epic sweep, Coiro sought to add further scope to the movie by meticulously casting each supporting role, no matter how small — the place where the Preston Sturges influence is felt most keenly.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
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Thomas, an eminent artist and scholar, is protean and stubborn, aging and ageless, keenly attentive and impossible to pin down.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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What ‘Forbidden Fruits’ Is About The film offers a darkly comic premise.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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Up next, he’ll be seen starring opposite Liam Neeson and Talia Ryder in 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank, the darkly comedic heist film from Amazon MGM’s Orion Pictures, which serves as Frankie Shaw’s feature directorial debut.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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In many ways, Donovan’s story is distressingly familiar.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
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In essence, Bright Lights, Big City, instead of being emotionally provoking and riveting, is distressingly gray and tedious, enlivened only by Fox’s gifted histrionics.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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What at first appears to be a run-of-the-mill trauma drama about a family dealing with the eldest child’s anorexia nervosa gradually evolves into something odder and more original, even blackly comic, in Ungrateful Beings.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Piercingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piercingly. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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