ear-piercing

[ eer-peer-sing ]

/ ˈɪərˌpɪər sɪŋ /

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See synonyms for ear-piercing on Thesaurus.com

adjective

extremely harsh and irritating to the ear: ear-piercing noise.

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Origin of ear-piercing

First recorded in 1595–1605

Words nearby ear-piercing

earn one's stripes, EAROM, Earp, earphone, earpiece, ear-piercing, earplug, Earp, Wyatt, earreach, earring, ear rot

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ear-piercing in a sentence

“Jeffrey wanted me to tell you that you looked so pretty,” the female voice said into my disbelieving ear.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In an act of corporal punishment that we at the Daily Beast do not condone, Joseph grabbed Him by the ear and “pulled hard.”
Was Baby Jesus A Holy Terror?|Candida Moss|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And in his view, they may be good at policy but have “a deaf ear when it comes to politics.”
How Will Cuba Play In Peoria?|Eleanor Clift|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Worse, when Richman woke up the next morning, her entire ear was purple.
‘My Crazy Love’ Reveals the Craziest Lies People Tell for Love|Kevin Fallon|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She had low-grade blood poisoning in her ear from the pin she used to pierce it.
‘My Crazy Love’ Reveals the Craziest Lies People Tell for Love|Kevin Fallon|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When we were mounted Mac leaned over and muttered an admonitory word for Piegan's ear alone.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
What the ear hears is the fundamental pitch only; the overtones harmonize with the primary or fundamental tone, and enrich it.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
But I doubt if he feels any particular emotion himself, when he is piercing you through with his rendering.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The worst loss is that of Winston's ear; high principles won't obtain high explosives.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
He looked up, half shutting his one funny eye, and cocking one ear up, and letting the other droop down.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for ear-piercing

ear piercing

noun

the 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

adjective ear-piercing

so loud or shrill as to hurt the ears

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