pointed

[ poin-tid ]
See synonyms for: pointedpointedlypointedness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. having a point or points: a pointed arch.

  2. sharp or piercing: pointed wit.

  1. having direct effect, significance, or force: pointed criticism.

  2. aimed; directed: a pointed gun.

  3. directed particularly, as at a person: a pointed remark.

  4. marked; emphasized: An unusual turn of phrase, a well-placed emphasis, a choice of adjective, a pointed omission—all can turn an otherwise innocent sentence into a verbal dagger.

  5. Heraldry. (of a cross) having parallel sides with points formed by two inclined sides on each end: a cross pointed.

Origin of pointed

1
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at point, -ed2, -ed3

Other words for pointed

Opposites for pointed

Other words from pointed

  • point·ed·ly, adverb
  • point·ed·ness, noun
  • mul·ti·point·ed, adjective
  • self-point·ed, adjective
  • un·point·ed, adjective
  • well-point·ed, adjective

Words Nearby pointed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pointed in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pointed

pointed

/ (ˈpɔɪntɪd) /


adjective
  1. having a point

  2. cutting or incisive: a pointed wit

  1. obviously directed at or intended for a particular person or aspect: pointed criticism

  2. emphasized or made conspicuous: pointed ignorance

  3. (of an arch or style of architecture employing such an arch) Gothic

  4. music (of a psalm text) marked to show changes in chanting

  5. (of Hebrew text) with vowel points marked

Derived forms of pointed

  • pointedly, adverb
  • pointedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012