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:
A certain portion of the fanbase do romanticise the ear-piercing sound of the engines from the 1990s and early 2000s.
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2025
Seldom have 58,000 people, uniformly this vocally delighted and expressive, produced such an ear-piercing sound.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2023
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
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
The two notes that create the ear-piercing clash are placed at a distance of eleven steps from one other: an E and the Et above it.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Known for its colourful shop fronts and racks of jewellery, bracelets and its ear piercing services, the brand's bright purple branding is a familiar sight for millions of teens during a Saturday shop.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
It’s the second bankruptcy filing in seven years for the chain, which was once the go-to destination for ear piercing and cheap jewelry.
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.
