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