pointed
Americanadjective
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having a point or points.
a pointed arch.
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sharp or piercing.
pointed wit.
- Synonyms:
- epigrammatic, penetrating
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having direct effect, significance, or force.
pointed criticism.
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aimed; directed.
a pointed gun.
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directed particularly, as at a person.
a pointed remark.
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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.
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Heraldry. (of a cross) having parallel sides with points formed by two inclined sides on each end.
a cross pointed.
adjective
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having a point
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cutting or incisive
a pointed wit
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obviously directed at or intended for a particular person or aspect
pointed criticism
-
emphasized or made conspicuous
pointed ignorance
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(of an arch or style of architecture employing such an arch) Gothic
-
music (of a psalm text) marked to show changes in chanting
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(of Hebrew text) with vowel points marked
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pointed
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at point, -ed 2, -ed 3
Explanation
Pointed things have a sharp end, like a cat's pointed teeth or the pointed tip of your #2 pencil . A pointed comment, on the other hand, is deliberately direct. You might buy stylish shoes with pointed toes or wear fake, pointed fingernails as part of your Halloween costume, but the second definition of pointed is even more common. A pointed remark gets right to the heart of the matter, and might even hurt someone's feelings. If your mom gives you a pointed look, you probably know exactly what she's thinking about.
Vocabulary lists containing pointed
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.
A spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which brought the state charges, pointed to a prior statement in which he said that prosecutors had been tirelessly preparing for trial.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Klein also pointed to a report saying OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told investors that the company’s enterprise business now makes up more of its revenue than its consumer segment.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
To support his thesis, Altin pointed to a 3rd-century BC frieze depicting the deification of Homer, which he says reproduced the Bornova cave with remarkable precision.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The quality of the performances are better than ever, Parsons, the Paralympic president, pointed out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
But then Hannie pointed to a tree further down the canal.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
