piercing
/ˈpɪəsɪŋ
/adjective
1Having or showing shrewdness or keen intelligence: her piercing analysis a tall blonde with piercing eyes...
- He does, and it's what leads him to some very fine insights and piercing analyses.
- His eyes were keen, their piercing gaze complementing the wisdom behind them.
- He leaves the piercing insights for another day though.
Synonyms
shrewd, discerning, perceptive, probing, searching, observant, penetrating, penetrative, sharp, keen, alert, intent, inquisitive
perceptive, percipient, perspicacious, penetrating, discerning, discriminating, intelligent, quick-witted, sharp, sharp-witted, shrewd, insightful, keen, acute, astute, clever, smart, incisive, knife-like, razor-edged, trenchant, subtle, quick, ready, clear, sensitive, thoughtful, deep, profound
1.1(Of a sound) extremely high or loud: she let out a piercing scream...
- It was a loud and piercing sound that filled the entire room.
- She covered her ears with the piercing sound of shattering glass.
- Jim followed, his eyes still watering from the piercing sound of that chair screaming across the hardwood floor.
Synonyms
shrill, ear-piercing, ear-splitting, high-pitched, air-rending, penetrating, shattering, strident, loud, strong;
sharp, intrusive, screechy, squawky
1.2(Of wind or extreme cold) seeming to cut through one: the piercing cold of winter...
- It snowed on and off all day and a cold piercing wind blew down the streets, along the canyons between the city's skyscrapers.
- Suddenly, the temperature made a drop from warm to freezing, as the plants around her froze and the gust of wind became a piercing gale.
- At night, I was awakened by the piercing wind and burrowed under the quilt to escape the cold.
Synonyms
freezing, frosty, frigid, chill, chilling, glacial, arctic, wintry, sharp, keen, biting, stinging, cutting, penetrating, numbing, harsh, fierce, raw, bitter
British informal parky
rare nipping
1.3(Of a feeling) intense, typically in a distressing way: I recall one moment of piercing sadness...
- I yelled and wiggled, but I couldn't stop the piercing feeling from growing more intense.
- A painful piercing feeling went through my heart when she did that.
- She pronounced it with venomous, piercing rage, like a vulture pouncing on its prey, and then she threw her cup against the wall.
Synonyms
intense, excruciating, agonizing, sharp, stabbing, shooting, stinging, severe, extreme, fierce, harrowing, searing, penetrating, racking, insufferable, unbearable, unendurable, torturous
rare exquisite
noun
1A small hole in a part of the body, typically other than the ears, made so as to insert a ring, stud, or other piece of jewellery: this is the place to get your tattoo or piercing done...
- Off he strolled down the drive, the silver rings and studs in his facial piercings sparkling cheerfully.
- Body piercers who carry out piercings other than to ears still have to comply with workplace health and safety regulations, she adds.
- She had two piercings in each ear and in the holes she wore hoops with a Celtic design and balls in the middle.
1.1A ring, stud, or other piece of jewellery worn in a pierced part of the body: two months ago, I decided to take out all my piercings...
- She showcased her lean physique in the skimpy crochet two-piece - flashing a belly button piercing.
- Melanie shared a picture of herself without any make-up on as well as some new piercings.
- She kept her accessories to a minimum, save for a belly-button piercing and a light pink tote which she kept next to her sun lounger.
Derivatives
piercingly
/ adverb ...- As Samuel Johnson piercingly observed, ‘Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier.’
- The inscription shone piercingly bright, and yet remote, as if out of a great depth.
- Neil has a piercingly direct focus and a generous smile.