PIERCING: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PIERCING?

Need another word that means the same as “piercing”? Find 72 synonyms and 30 related words for “piercing” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Piercing” are: cutting, keen, knifelike, lancinate, lancinating, stabbing, acute, discriminating, incisive, penetrating, penetrative, sharp, shrewd, discerning, perceptive, probing, searching, observant, alert, intent, inquisitive, percipient, perspicacious, intelligent, quick-witted, insightful, astute, clever, smart, trenchant, subtle, quick, ready, clear, sensitive, thoughtful, deep, profound, shrill, high-pitched, shattering, strident, loud, strong, freezing, frosty, frigid, chill, chilling, glacial, arctic, wintry, biting, stinging, numbing, harsh, fierce, raw, bitter, intense, excruciating, agonizing, shooting, severe, extreme, harrowing, searing, racking, insufferable, unbearable, unendurable, torturous

Piercing as an Adjective

Definitions of "Piercing" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “piercing” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Having or showing shrewdness or keen intelligence.
• (of a sound) extremely high or loud.
• (of wind or extreme cold) seeming to cut through one.
• (of a feeling) intense, typically in a distressing way.
• Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions.
• Painful as if caused by a sharp instrument.

Synonyms of "Piercing" as an adjective (72 Words)

acute	Denoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease. The problem is acute and getting worse.
agonizing	Extremely painful. There is an agonizing choice to make.
alert	Able to think clearly; intellectually active. Constantly alert and vigilant like a sentinel on duty.
arctic	Of or relating to the Arctic. An arctic climate.
astute	Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence. An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease.
biting	(of insects and certain other animals) able to wound the skin with a sting or fangs. He leant forward to protect himself against the biting wind.
bitter	Causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold. I don t feel jealous or bitter.
chill	Chilly. In general I am a pretty chill guy.
chilling	Horrifying or frightening. A chilling account of the prisoners fate.
clear	Clear and distinct to the senses easily perceptible. I have clear title to this property.
clever	Sensible; well advised. She was an extremely clever and studious young woman.
cutting	Capable of cutting something. A cutting wind.
deep	Relatively deep or strong affecting one deeply. A deep pink.
discerning	Having or showing good judgement. A discerning eye for color.
discriminating	Showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste. The discriminating eye of the connoisseur.
excruciating	Extremely painful. Excruciating back pain.
extreme	(of a person or their opinions) far from moderate, especially politically. Extreme opinions.
fierce	Showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity. The fire door had a fierce pneumatic return.
freezing	Below 0°C. He was freezing and miserable.
frigid	Unable to be sexually aroused (typically used of a woman. The air was frigid and spectators shivered against the cold.
frosty	Covered with frost. The dog crouched in the frosty grass.
glacial	Very cold; icy. Glacial winds.
harrowing	Extremely painful. It was a harrowing experience.
harsh	(of a climate or conditions) difficult to survive in; hostile. A harsh penalty.
high-pitched	Set at a sharp or high angle or slant.
incisive	Suitable for cutting or piercing. Incisive teeth.
inquisitive	Unduly curious about the affairs of others; prying. I didn t like to seem inquisitive.
insightful	Having or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive. An insightful parent.
insufferable	Having or showing unbearable arrogance or conceit. The heat would be insufferable by July.
intelligent	Having or showing intelligence, especially of a high level. An intelligent guess.
intense	Extremely sharp or intense. Intense emotion.
intent	Attentively occupied with. The government was intent on achieving greater efficiency.
keen	Painful as if caused by a sharp instrument. Her keen intellect.
knifelike	Having a sharp or distinct edge. Knifelike cold.
lancinate	Painful as if caused by a sharp instrument.
lancinating	Painful as if caused by a sharp instrument. Lancinating pain.
loud	Used chiefly as a direction or description in music loud with force. Loud trombones.
numbing	So frightened as to be unable to move; stunned or paralyzed with terror; petrified. The numbing effect of alcohol.
observant	(of individuals) adhering strictly to laws and rules and customs. Observant of the speed limit.
penetrating	(of a person’s eyes or expression) reflecting an apparent ability to see into another’s mind; intense. The problem of penetrating damp.
penetrative	Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions. The gunpowder weapons have extra penetrative power.
perceptive	Of or relating to perception. An extraordinarily perceptive account of their relationship.
percipient	Characterized by ease and quickness in perceiving. A percipient author.
perspicacious	Mentally acute or penetratingly discerning. Much too perspicacious to be taken in by such a spurious argument.
probing	Diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation. She asks some probing questions.
profound	(of a subject or idea) demanding deep study or thought. Profound crevasses.
quick	Moving quickly and lightly. A quick mind.
quick-witted	Mentally nimble and resourceful.
racking	Causing great physical or mental suffering.
raw	(of the edge of a piece of cloth) not having a hem or selvedge. Raw recruits.
ready	In need of or having a desire for. He was ready to believe her.
searching	Thoroughly scrutinizing, especially in a disconcerting way. A searching investigation of their past dealings.
searing	Extremely hot or intense. The searing heat of the sun.
sensitive	Kept secret or with restrictions on disclosure to avoid endangering security. A sensitive voltmeter.
severe	Severely simple. She wore another severe suit grey this time.
sharp	Keenly and painfully felt as if caused by a sharp edge or point. There was a sharp crack of thunder.
shattering	Very shocking or upsetting. He found it a shattering experience.
shooting	(of a pain) sudden and piercing. Shooting beams of light played over the sea.
shrewd	Mischievous; malicious. A bayonet s shrewd thrust.
shrill	Having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones. A shrill gaiety.
smart	Improperly forward or bold. He set off at a smart pace.
stabbing	(of a pain or sensation) sharp and sudden. A stabbing remark.
stinging	Having a sting; capable of wounding or piercing with a sting. A swarm of stinging insects.
strident	Conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry. Public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident.
strong	Strong and sure. Strong lager.
subtle	Crafty; cunning. Subtle lighting.
thoughtful	Taking heed giving close and thoughtful attention. A thoughtful paper.
torturous	Extremely painful. A torturous five days of fitness training.
trenchant	Vigorous or incisive in expression or style. A trenchant argument.
unbearable	Not able to be endured or tolerated. The heat was getting unbearable.
unendurable	Not able to be tolerated or endured. Cries of unendurable suffering.
wintry	Characteristic of or occurring in winter. Suffered severe wintry weather.

Usage Examples of "Piercing" as an adjective

• Piercing knifelike pains.
• Her piercing analysis.
• Piercing criticism.
• Piercing cold.
• The piercing cold of winter.
• I recall one moment of piercing sadness.
• A tall blonde with piercing eyes.
• She let out a piercing scream.

Associations of "Piercing" (30 Words)

acute	Denoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease. An acute observer of politics and politicians.
acutely	In an acute manner. He was acutely insightful.
appreciative	Feeling or showing gratitude or pleasure. An appreciative laugh from the audience.
bethink	Cause oneself to consider something. He bethought himself of the verse from the Book of Proverbs.
biting	(of wit or criticism) harsh or cruel. A biting aphorism.
diacritical	Capable of distinguishing.
discerning	Quick to understand. A discerning eye for color.
discriminating	Showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste. The discriminating eye of the connoisseur.
incisive	(of an account) accurate and sharply focused. The songs offer incisive pictures of American ways.
infiltrate	Cause (a liquid) to enter by penetrating the interstices. Virtually no water infiltrates deserts such as the Sahara.
insightful	Having or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive. An insightful parent.
keenness	Thinness of edge or fineness of point. He has expressed his keenness to retain his job.
penetrating	Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions. A penetrating odor.
perceptive	Of or relating to perception. A perceptive observation.
perforate	Perforated. Perforate the sheets of paper.
permeate	Spread or diffuse through. An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration.
pervade	(especially of a smell) spread through and be perceived in every part of. A smell of stale cabbage pervaded the air.
pierce	Make a hole into. The scream pierced the night.
pointed	(of a remark or look) expressing criticism in a direct and unambiguous way. Pointed comments were made about racial discrimination within the army.
pungent	Having a sharply strong taste or smell. The pungent smell of frying onions.
sharp	A thing with a sharp edge such as a blade or a fragment of glass. Fresh goats milk cheese has a slightly sharper flavour than fromage frais.
shrewd	(especially of weather) piercingly cold. A shrewd east wind.
shrill	A shrill sound or cry. A concession to their shrill demands.
sickle	A short-handled farming tool with a semicircular blade, used for cutting corn, lopping, or trimming.
spinous	Having spines. The dorsal fin is spinous.
spiny	Full of or covered with prickles. A spiny problem.
thorny	Bristling with perplexities. Tangled thorny branches.
trident	A three-pronged spear, especially as an attribute of Poseidon (Neptune) or Britannia.
understanding	Characterized by understanding based on comprehension and discernment and empathy. People expect their doctor to be understanding.