piercing

8 definitions • 10 examples

going through or into something:

Troops have been issued with new armour-piercing anti-tank grenades.

very cold, or making you feel very cold:

We shivered in the piercing wind.

(of a sound) high, loud, and unpleasant:

piercing screams

a criticism, question, remark, etc. that is unpleasant or uncomfortable because it is expressed strongly, or it makes you think about or discuss something that you would prefer not to:

She hadn't really meant to lie, but their piercing questions had forced her to.

used to describe the fact of a person looking very carefully at someone or something, especially when they are trying to discover something, often making people feel uncomfortable:

Sherlock Holmes gave him a piercing glance.

a hole made in the body for wearing jewellery:

He has several tattoos and multiple piercings.

a belly button/nose piercing

the process of making a hole in the body for wearing jewellery:

They offer ear piercing, facials, massage, and manicures.

feeling or seeming very sharp or powerful:

He had piercing blue eyes.

She let out a piercing (= loud) shriek.