piercing

[ peer-sing ]

adjective

1. loud or shrill, as the quality of a voice.

   Synonyms: screeching, strident, grating

2. extremely cold or bitter:

   a piercing wind.

3. appearing to gaze deeply or penetratingly into something:

   piercing eyes.

4. perceptive or aware; acute:

   a piercing mind.

5. sarcastic or caustic; cutting:

   piercing remarks.

6. having an unpleasantly intense quality or effect:

   a piercing drought.

noun

1. an act or instance of making a hole or opening in something:

   The cleverly engineered design allows for a safe and smooth piercing of the hose for an easy, watertight installation.

2. the practice or technique of puncturing a body part so that jewelry can be inserted:

   The shop is super clean and they're obviously experts in piercing.

3. a hole or opening made by puncturing: An infected navel piercing can usually be treated with antibiotics.

   The five wall piercings were possibly a reference to the Five Holy Wounds of Christ.

   An infected navel piercing can usually be treated with antibiotics.

4. a ring, stud, or other piece of jewelry inserted through a hole in a body part:

   He wears five silver piercings on his ears.

piercing

/ ˈpɪəsɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a sound) sharp and shrill
2. (of eyes or a look) intense and penetrating
3. (of an emotion) strong and deeply affecting
4. (of cold or wind) intense or biting

noun

1. the art or practice of piercing body parts for the insertion of jewellery
2. an instance of the piercing of a body part

Derived Forms

• ˈpiercingly, adverb

Other Words From

• pierc·ing·ly adverb
• pierc·ing·ness noun
• un·pierc·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of piercing¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; pierce, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Aside from fronting his namesake band Dio from 1982 through 2010, the diminutive singer was known for his piercing vocals and being among the first rockers to flash the famed devil horns hand gesture.

From Los Angeles Times

Payne could virtuosically ad-lib live through the bridge of “Summer Love” or hit piercing high notes on a cover of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the most piercing instances in Emilia’s journey rely on Audiard’s penchant for indelible imagery.

From Los Angeles Times

He’d played Patrick Dempsey’s father on the TV show “Once and Again,” and while his character was a shadowy figure, Bell’s potent, piercing voice cut through.

From Los Angeles Times

He touched on all sorts of topics on the show, but an episode in 1997 captured his presence — a composed, bespectacled reporter in a crisp gray suit asking piercing questions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• biting
• blaring
• earsplitting
• fierce
• high-pitched
• painful
• penetrating
• shrill