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Definition of piercing

piercing

/ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
pierc · ing
Adverb:piercingly
•
Plural:piercings
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piercing Lexical Profile

piercing Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

(especially of a sound or voice) high-pitched, sharp, and unpleasantly loud.

Example

"A piercing whistle echoed across the empty train station."

2

(of cold, wind, or pain) extreme, sharp, and felt intensely.

Example

"They walked briskly against the piercing winter wind."

3

(of eyes, a gaze, or an observation) seeming to see right through someone or showing keen intelligence and insight.

Example

"The portrait was famous for the subject's piercing blue eyes."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A small hole made in a part of the body, such as the ear, nose, or eyebrow, for wearing jewelry, or a piece of jewelry worn in such a hole.

Example

"She decided to get a second piercing in her left earlobe."

2

The act or process of making a hole or opening in something with a sharp instrument.

Example

"Proper sterilization of instruments is essential before any skin piercing takes place."

Synonyms
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• Nearby Words

pierce
pierceable
piercer
piercing
piercingly
pieris
pierogi

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'pierce' (from Old French 'percier', likely from Vulgar Latin '*pertusiare', meaning 'to bore through') plus the suffix '-ing'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Piercing. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/piercing
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