penetrating

[ pen-i-trey-ting ]

See synonyms for: penetrating penetratingly 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; penetrat(e) + -ing²

Also penetrant .

synonym study For penetrating

2. See acute.

Other words for penetrating

2	keen, sharp

See synonyms for penetrating on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for penetrating

obtuse

See antonyms for penetrating on Thesaurus.com

Other words from penetrating

pen·e·trat·ing·ly, adverb
pen·e·trat·ing·ness, noun
non·pen·e·trat·ing, adjective
un·pen·e·trat·ing, adjective
un·pen·e·trat·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby penetrating

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use penetrating in a sentence

As mentioned, Far UV is far less penetrating and safe for direct exposure of room occupants.
If We're Going to Live With COVID-19, It's Time to Clean Our Indoor Air Properly | Edward A Nardell | February 1, 2022 | Time
Now, Fermi was doing something similar, but with a more penetrating probe.
How matter’s hidden complexity unleashed the power of nuclear physics | Emily Conover | April 8, 2021 | Science News
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 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 | THE DAILY BEAST

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 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 | THE DAILY BEAST
Calm under fire, he possessed a sure and penetrating coup d'œil; he had great experience in war.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
He had a loose hairy benignant face with a humorous but penetrating eye and the usual domelike brow.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
It was shrill, it was penetrating, it rose and fell with a sort of ripping, tearing slash.
Scattergood Baines | Clarence Budington Kelland
Now and then - 63 -he turns his head slowly as he leads, and rests these keen, penetrating orbs on the sea of dancers below him.
The Real Latin Quarter | F. Berkeley Smith
Some were for trying a new line of road, and for penetrating into Guzerat through Rajpootana.
Confessions of a Thug | Philip Meadows Taylor

British Dictionary definitions for penetrating

penetrating

/ (ˈpɛnɪˌtreɪtɪŋ) /

adjective

tending to or able to penetrate: a penetrating mind; a penetrating voice

Derived forms of penetrating

penetratingly, adverb

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

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