PIERCING Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

piercing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpir-siŋ

Definition of piercing

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

piercing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pierce

as in penetrating

to go or come in or into thoughts of revenge relentlessly pierced her mind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in drilling

to make a hole or series of holes in pierced his ears with a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

There’s a serious, piercing look on De’Andre Kirkpatrick’s face. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 And Denise, rather than retreating from the action, unleashes a piercing battle cry and plunges into the mayhem head on. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for piercing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for piercing

Adjective

The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.

— Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026

Definition of biting

Verb

Concrete is mixed with a crystalline, waterproof powder that blocks water from penetrating into it, protecting structures and extending their life.

— Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Concrete is mixed with a crystalline, water-proof powder that blocks water from penetrating into it, protecting structures and extending their life.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of penetrating

Verb

Options considered during the analysis included drilling holes in the existing piles and adding more steel inside, or widening the pile caps so more piles could be added on the outside.

— David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
Still, the Center for Biological Diversity last week filed an emergency petition with the New Mexico Supreme Court, challenging the state’s approval of well drilling to supply millions of gallons of water for Project Jupiter’s construction.

— Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of drilling

Verb

As officers worked on one stabbing scene, more calls came in — another stabbing, then another, then three more, all before officers tracked down and arrested the suspect nearby.

— Maddie White, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
While at the scene, they were notified by BART police that a third stabbing victim had been found near the Fruitvale station.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of stabbing

Adjective

Trump has declined so far to endorse a successor, opting to keep his cards close ahead of what’s likely to be a bitter race.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
If more than a small portion is green, or the potato smells off, feels soft, or tastes bitter after cooking, discard it.

— Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitter

Adjective

Before the researchers could start sampling it, though, a deafening roar suddenly filled the tunnel.

— James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
Dixon said other issues to be considered are the deafening roar of traffic passing under the footbridge on I-91 and how to soften it.

— Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026

Definition of deafening

Verb

However, entering June, crude prices pulled back significantly, while retail gasoline prices declined at a markedly slower pace.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Late Thursday, Hoffenberg shared with the Tribune a two-hour surveillance video that, at one point, shows Landek and Hoffenberg entering the frame in mid-conversation.

— Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of entering

Browse Nearby Words

pierces

piercing

piercingly

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Style

“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/piercing. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of piercing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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