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Showing results for "penetrating"
Synonyms

penetrating

American  
[pen-i-trey-ting] / ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. able or tending to penetrate; piercing; sharp: a penetrating glance.

    a penetrating shriek;

    a penetrating glance.

  2. acute; discerning.

    a penetrating observation.

    Synonyms:
    sharp, keen
    Antonyms:
    obtuse
  3. Surgery. noting a wound that pierces the skin, especially a deep wound entering an organ or body cavity.


penetrating British  
/ ˈpɛnɪˌtreɪtɪŋ /

adjective

  1. tending to or able to penetrate

    a penetrating mind

    a penetrating voice

"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

Synonym Usage

See acute.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of penetrating

First recorded in 1590–1600; penetrat(e) + -ing 2

Vocabulary lists containing penetrating

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.

In April, speedway president Doug Boles said the problem appeared to be a lack of rubber in the warmup lanes after the entire track had been treated with Rapid Penetrating Emulsion last fall.

From Seattle Times • May 12, 2022

Penetrating finishes are much less common and substantially different from surface finishes.

From Washington Post • Nov. 23, 2021

Experts have revealed an entire ancient Roman city in Italy through Ground Penetrating Radar technology.

From Fox News • Jun. 9, 2020

Technologies that can peer underground from the surface, such as Ground Penetrating Radar, are also revolutionizing the field – for example, revealing previously unknown structures at Stonehenge.

From Salon • Jan. 14, 2020

Penetrating the flesh; exposed, faintly glowing, the bone line of her jaw.

From Brigands of the Moon by Cummings, Ray

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