piercing

American  

[peer-sing] / ˈpɪər sɪŋ /

adjective

1. loud or shrill, as the quality of a voice.

   Synonyms:

   screeching, strident, grating

2. extremely cold or bitter.

   a piercing wind.

3. appearing to gaze deeply or penetratingly into something.

   piercing eyes.

4. perceptive or aware; acute.

   a piercing mind.

5. sarcastic or caustic; cutting.

   piercing remarks.

6. having an unpleasantly intense quality or effect.

   a piercing drought.

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noun

1. an act or instance of making a hole or opening in something.

   The cleverly engineered design allows for a safe and smooth piercing of the hose for an easy, watertight installation.

2. the practice or technique of puncturing a body part so that jewelry can be inserted.

   The shop is super clean and they're obviously experts in piercing.

3. a hole or opening made by puncturing: An infected navel piercing can usually be treated with antibiotics.

   The five wall piercings were possibly a reference to the Five Holy Wounds of Christ.

   An infected navel piercing can usually be treated with antibiotics.

4. a ring, stud, or other piece of jewelry inserted through a hole in a body part.

   He wears five silver piercings on his ears.

piercing British  

/ ˈpɪəsɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a sound) sharp and shrill

2. (of eyes or a look) intense and penetrating

3. (of an emotion) strong and deeply affecting

4. (of cold or wind) intense or biting

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noun

1. the art or practice of piercing body parts for the insertion of jewellery

2. an instance of the piercing of a body part

Other Word Forms

• piercingly adverb
• piercingness noun
• unpiercing adjective

Etymology

Origin of piercing

First recorded in 1375–1425; pierce, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Notice that the pattern of higher lows made last May, July, and September, marked by a bullish piercing line, a spinning top, and a doji, was broken in March.

From Barron's

Note the bullish piercing line candle occurred at the depth of the pattern on Oct.

From Barron's

Notice bottoms in this possible cup were formed with positive candlestick patterns, including a bullish morning star and piercing line in the summer of 2024 and spring of 2025.

From Barron's

A doji candle on March 12 inspires confidence that a bottom could be in play here, which also retested a powerful bullish piercing line candle from Jan. 8.

From Barron's

Wolf took up the howl, and their piercing cries buffeted the ravine -back and forth, back and forth through the Mountains.

From Literature

Related Words

• biting
• blaring
• earsplitting
• fierce
• high-pitched
• painful
• penetrating
• shrill