ear-piercing
adjective
extremely harsh and irritating to the ear.
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ear-piercing
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ear piercing
ear piercingnounthe making of a hole in the lobe of an ear, using a sterilized needle, so that an earring may be worn fastened in the hole
ear-piercing
American
[eer-peer-sing]
/ ˈɪərˌpɪər sɪŋ /
adjective
ear piercing
British
noun
adjective
Etymology
Origin of ear-piercing
First recorded in 1595–1605
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
As Stankiewicz attempted to utter another sentence, the train’s ear-piercing horn sounded.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
The only construction activity was a truck that dumped loads of crushed rock, making an ear-piercing screech.
From New York Times ● May 31, 2023
Hunter was met with ear-piercing screams as she emerged with nine-year-old niece Isabella holding her hand.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2023
Every match has felt like a home game for Morocco, whose passionate supporters greeted all the spells of possession by Spain and Portugal with ear-piercing whistles and jeers.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 11, 2022
Not like a gym-class monster-dodgeball runner, like flying away from an ear-piercing wail that rings through the classroom and hallways, vibrating the entire school and every inch of Axel’s body.
From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers
Claire's is known for selling jewellery, colourful accessories such as necklaces and bracelets, and is part of millions of young people's memories for its ear piercing services.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2025
The stores were also a major destination for ear piercing services.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2025
Tiffany Smith, the outreach coordinator for the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, said the procedure is about as invasive as getting an ear piercing.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 28, 2020
One company tried to get me to accept a free ear piercing if I filmed it live.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 19, 2020
“The Butterfly had an ear piercing that wasn’t on era.”
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
