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Synonyms

ear-piercing

American  
[eer-peer-sing] / ˈɪərˌpɪər sɪŋ /

adjective

  1. extremely harsh and irritating to the ear.

    ear-piercing noise.
ear piercing British  

noun

  1. 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

"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

adjective

  1. 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

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.

And he’s not referring to the ear-piercing, 130-decibel sound coming from his Red Bull Racing 20 car.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2024

Hunter was met with ear-piercing screams as she emerged with nine-year-old niece Isabella holding her hand.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2023

But in true late-season wildness, SKC captain Johnny Russell cut through the ear-piercing noise and Seattle’s defense for the game-winner in the 79th minute.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 23, 2021

The Brood X cicadas have already begun to rise from their underground lairs, and people across 15 Northeastern states will soon have free tickets to swarms of ear-piercing performances.

From Washington Times • May 5, 2021

Then came an ear-piercing scream, like a thousand unoiled door hinges all swinging at the same time.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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.