piercing

1 of 3

adjective

pierc·​ing ˈpir-siŋ How to pronounce piercing (audio)
Synonyms of piercingnext
: penetrating: such as
a
: loud, shrill
piercing cries
b
: perceptive
piercing eyes
c
: penetratingly cold : biting
a piercing wind
d
: cutting, incisive
piercing sarcasm
piercingly
ˈpir-siŋ-lē How to pronounce piercing (audio)
adverb

piercing

2 of 3

noun

: a piece of jewelry (such as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh

piercing

3 of 3

present participle of pierce

Synonyms of piercing

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of piercing in a Sentence

Adjective She looked at me with piercing eyes, and I was suddenly frightened that she knew what I had done. I tried to avoid his piercing stare. She felt a piercing sadness when she heard the news. Noun There's a small shop in town where they do tattooing and body piercing. She got another ear piercing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Still, the glimpses of freedom Clark offers are all the more piercing for their rarity. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026 Mars merging with Pluto can hit you with a piercing moment of honesty. — Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Shooting in a widescreen format that gives ironic grandeur to a squat, featureless town in the Texas Panhandle, DP Peter Flinckenberg is attentive to the piercing, sometimes radiant winter light of the region in the harshest months of the year. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 Just one month prior, North was seen in another TikTok clip in which bandages were situated in the exact same place as the possible dermal piercings on her thighs. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for piercing

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piercing was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing piercing

Browse Nearby Words

piercer
piercing
piercing punch
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piercing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

piercing

1 of 2 adjective
pierc·​ing
: having the ability to enter, pierce, or penetrate: as
a
: loud and shrill
piercing screams
b
: perceptive, keen
a piercing glance
c
: very cold
a piercing wind
piercingly
ˈpir-siŋ-lē
adverb

piercing

2 of 2 noun
: a piece of jewelry (as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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