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)

acuteDenoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease.
The problem is acute and getting worse.
agonizingExtremely painful.
There is an agonizing choice to make.
alertAble to think clearly; intellectually active.
Constantly alert and vigilant like a sentinel on duty.
arcticOf or relating to the Arctic.
An arctic climate.
astuteMarked 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.
bitterCausing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold.
I don t feel jealous or bitter.
chillChilly.
In general I am a pretty chill guy.
chillingHorrifying or frightening.
A chilling account of the prisoners fate.
clearClear and distinct to the senses easily perceptible.
I have clear title to this property.
cleverSensible; well advised.
She was an extremely clever and studious young woman.
cuttingCapable of cutting something.
A cutting wind.
deepRelatively deep or strong affecting one deeply.
A deep pink.
discerningHaving or showing good judgement.
A discerning eye for color.
discriminatingShowing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste.
The discriminating eye of the connoisseur.
excruciatingExtremely painful.
Excruciating back pain.
extreme(of a person or their opinions) far from moderate, especially politically.
Extreme opinions.
fierceShowing a heartfelt and powerful intensity.
The fire door had a fierce pneumatic return.
freezingBelow 0°C.
He was freezing and miserable.
frigidUnable to be sexually aroused (typically used of a woman.
The air was frigid and spectators shivered against the cold.
frostyCovered with frost.
The dog crouched in the frosty grass.
glacialVery cold; icy.
Glacial winds.
harrowingExtremely painful.
It was a harrowing experience.
harsh(of a climate or conditions) difficult to survive in; hostile.
A harsh penalty.
high-pitchedSet at a sharp or high angle or slant.
incisiveSuitable for cutting or piercing.
Incisive teeth.
inquisitiveUnduly curious about the affairs of others; prying.
I didn t like to seem inquisitive.
insightfulHaving or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive.
An insightful parent.
insufferableHaving or showing unbearable arrogance or conceit.
The heat would be insufferable by July.
intelligentHaving or showing intelligence, especially of a high level.
An intelligent guess.
intenseExtremely sharp or intense.
Intense emotion.
intentAttentively occupied with.
The government was intent on achieving greater efficiency.
keenPainful as if caused by a sharp instrument.
Her keen intellect.
knifelikeHaving a sharp or distinct edge.
Knifelike cold.
lancinatePainful as if caused by a sharp instrument.
lancinatingPainful as if caused by a sharp instrument.
Lancinating pain.
loudUsed chiefly as a direction or description in music loud with force.
Loud trombones.
numbingSo 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.
penetrativeHaving or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions.
The gunpowder weapons have extra penetrative power.
perceptiveOf or relating to perception.
An extraordinarily perceptive account of their relationship.
percipientCharacterized by ease and quickness in perceiving.
A percipient author.
perspicaciousMentally acute or penetratingly discerning.
Much too perspicacious to be taken in by such a spurious argument.
probingDiligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation.
She asks some probing questions.
profound(of a subject or idea) demanding deep study or thought.
Profound crevasses.
quickMoving quickly and lightly.
A quick mind.
quick-wittedMentally nimble and resourceful.
rackingCausing great physical or mental suffering.
raw(of the edge of a piece of cloth) not having a hem or selvedge.
Raw recruits.
readyIn need of or having a desire for.
He was ready to believe her.
searchingThoroughly scrutinizing, especially in a disconcerting way.
A searching investigation of their past dealings.
searingExtremely hot or intense.
The searing heat of the sun.
sensitiveKept secret or with restrictions on disclosure to avoid endangering security.
A sensitive voltmeter.
severeSeverely simple.
She wore another severe suit grey this time.
sharpKeenly and painfully felt as if caused by a sharp edge or point.
There was a sharp crack of thunder.
shatteringVery shocking or upsetting.
He found it a shattering experience.
shooting(of a pain) sudden and piercing.
Shooting beams of light played over the sea.
shrewdMischievous; malicious.
A bayonet s shrewd thrust.
shrillHaving or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones.
A shrill gaiety.
smartImproperly forward or bold.
He set off at a smart pace.
stabbing(of a pain or sensation) sharp and sudden.
A stabbing remark.
stingingHaving a sting; capable of wounding or piercing with a sting.
A swarm of stinging insects.
stridentConspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry.
Public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident.
strongStrong and sure.
Strong lager.
subtleCrafty; cunning.
Subtle lighting.
thoughtfulTaking heed giving close and thoughtful attention.
A thoughtful paper.
torturousExtremely painful.
A torturous five days of fitness training.
trenchantVigorous or incisive in expression or style.
A trenchant argument.
unbearableNot able to be endured or tolerated.
The heat was getting unbearable.
unendurableNot able to be tolerated or endured.
Cries of unendurable suffering.
wintryCharacteristic 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)

acuteDenoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease.
An acute observer of politics and politicians.
acutelyIn an acute manner.
He was acutely insightful.
appreciativeFeeling or showing gratitude or pleasure.
An appreciative laugh from the audience.
bethinkCause 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.
diacriticalCapable of distinguishing.
discerningQuick to understand.
A discerning eye for color.
discriminatingShowing 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.
infiltrateCause (a liquid) to enter by penetrating the interstices.
Virtually no water infiltrates deserts such as the Sahara.
insightfulHaving or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive.
An insightful parent.
keennessThinness of edge or fineness of point.
He has expressed his keenness to retain his job.
penetratingHaving or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions.
A penetrating odor.
perceptiveOf or relating to perception.
A perceptive observation.
perforatePerforated.
Perforate the sheets of paper.
permeateSpread 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.
pierceMake 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.
pungentHaving a sharply strong taste or smell.
The pungent smell of frying onions.
sharpA 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.
shrillA shrill sound or cry.
A concession to their shrill demands.
sickleA short-handled farming tool with a semicircular blade, used for cutting corn, lopping, or trimming.
spinousHaving spines.
The dorsal fin is spinous.
spinyFull of or covered with prickles.
A spiny problem.
thornyBristling with perplexities.
Tangled thorny branches.
tridentA three-pronged spear, especially as an attribute of Poseidon (Neptune) or Britannia.
understandingCharacterized by understanding based on comprehension and discernment and empathy.
People expect their doctor to be understanding.

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