penetrating

[pen-i-trey-ting]

See more synonyms for penetrating on Thesaurus.com

adjective

able or tending to penetrate; piercing; sharp: a penetrating shriek; a penetrating glance.
acute; discerning: a penetrating observation.
Surgery. noting a wound that pierces the skin, especially a deep wound entering an organ or body cavity.

Origin of penetrating

First recorded in 1590–1600; penetrate + -ing²

Related formspen·e·trat·ing·ly, adverbpen·e·trat·ing·ness, nounnon·pen·e·trat·ing, adjectiveun·pen·e·trat·ing, adjectiveun·pen·e·trat·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms for penetrating

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2. keen, sharp. See acute.

Antonyms for penetrating

1. blunt. 2. obtuse.

penetrate

[pen-i-treyt]

verb (used with object), pen·e·trat·ed, pen·e·trat·ing.

to pierce or pass into or through: The bullet penetrated the wall. The fog lights penetrated the mist.
to enter the interior of: to penetrate a forest.
to enter and diffuse itself through; permeate.
to arrive at the truth or meaning of; understand; comprehend: to penetrate a mystery.
to obtain a share of (a market): to penetrate the Canadian coffee market.
to affect or impress (the mind or feelings) deeply.
to extend influence, usually peacefully, into the affairs of (another country).

verb (used without object), pen·e·trat·ed, pen·e·trat·ing.

to enter, reach, or pass through something, as by piercing: We penetrated to the interior of the Kasbah.
to be diffused through something.
to understand or read the meaning of something.
to have a deep effect or impact on someone.

Origin of penetrate

1520–30; < Latin penetrātus (past participle of penetrāre), equivalent to penet-, variant stem of penitus deep down + -r- (probably by analogy with intus inside: intrāre to enter) + -ātus + -ate¹

Related formspen·e·tra·tor, nounpre·pen·e·trate, verb (used with object), pre·pen·e·trat·ed, pre·pen·e·trat·ing.un·pen·e·trat·ed, adjective

Synonyms for penetrate

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4. fathom, discern. 6. touch.

Synonym study

1. See pierce.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for penetrating

trenchant, biting, piercing, astute, perceptive, shrewd, incisive, profound, clear-cut, pointed, crisp, cutting, shrill, carrying, keen, discerning, searching, discriminating, intrusive

Examples from the Web for penetrating

Contemporary Examples of penetrating

His brown eyes were penetrating yet peaceful, and he immediately disarmed my nervousness with his gentleness.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More
Gary Wright
September 29, 2014
And I have found peace in this land of sun, sand, conflict, religion, history, and penetrating eyes.
I Traveled 6,000 Miles and a Lifetime to See the Pride Flag Fly at the U.S. Embassy in Israel
Jim Neal
June 30, 2014
His penetrating gaze and rich voice made you believe him; whatever it was he was selling, you bought it.
Heroin: America’s Silent Assassin
Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Robert M. Lober, MD, PhD
February 3, 2014
This penetrating style of portraiture works on the subtlest of emotional responses as well.
Into the Woods With Virginia Woolf: Emily Perkins and ‘The Forrests’
Lucy Scholes
September 19, 2012
It also illustrates the perils of penetrating al Qaeda networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Khost CIA Attack: Lessons One Year Later
Bruce Riedel
December 29, 2010

Historical Examples of penetrating

And have you not before now said, that nothing is so penetrating as the eye of a lover who has vanity?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
It was a luxury so penetrating and powerful that it affected him like an opiate.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
He was losing all assurance, both fear and rage were penetrating him.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
With his death from the penetrating gas, something had gone wrong with the engine.
City of Endless Night
Milo Hastings
They left the choice to her penetrating wit, and her tried discretion.
Imogen
William Godwin

British Dictionary definitions for penetrating

penetrating

adjective

tending to or able to penetratea penetrating mind; a penetrating voice

Derived Formspenetratingly, adverb

penetrate

verb

to find or force a way into or through (something); pierce; enter
to diffuse through (a substance); permeate
(tr) to see throughtheir eyes could not penetrate the fog
(tr) (of a man) to insert the penis into the vagina of (a woman)
(tr) to grasp the meaning of (a principle, etc)
(intr) to be understoodhis face lit up as the new idea penetrated

Derived Formspenetrable, adjectivepenetrability, nounpenetrably, adverbpenetrative, adjectivepenetrator, noun

Word Origin for penetrate

C16: from Latin penetrāre; related to penitus inner, and penus the interior of a house

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

Word Origin and History for penetrating

adj.

"touching the feelings intensely," 1630s, figurative present participle adjective from penetrate (v.).

penetrate

1520s, from Latin penetratus, past participle of penetrare "to put or get into, enter into," related to penitus "within, inmost," penus "innermost part of a temple, store of food," penates "household gods." Related: Penetrated; penetrating.