pointed
Americanadjective
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having a point or points.
a pointed arch.
-
sharp or piercing.
pointed wit.
- Synonyms:
- epigrammatic, penetrating
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having direct effect, significance, or force.
pointed criticism.
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aimed; directed.
a pointed gun.
-
directed particularly, as at a person.
a pointed remark.
-
marked; emphasized.
An unusual turn of phrase, a well-placed emphasis, a choice of adjective, a pointed omission—all can turn an otherwise innocent sentence into a verbal dagger.
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Heraldry. (of a cross) having parallel sides with points formed by two inclined sides on each end.
a cross pointed.
adjective
-
having a point
-
cutting or incisive
a pointed wit
-
obviously directed at or intended for a particular person or aspect
pointed criticism
-
emphasized or made conspicuous
pointed ignorance
-
(of an arch or style of architecture employing such an arch) Gothic
-
music (of a psalm text) marked to show changes in chanting
-
(of Hebrew text) with vowel points marked
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pointed
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at point, -ed 2, -ed 3
Explanation
Pointed things have a sharp end, like a cat's pointed teeth or the pointed tip of your #2 pencil . A pointed comment, on the other hand, is deliberately direct. You might buy stylish shoes with pointed toes or wear fake, pointed fingernails as part of your Halloween costume, but the second definition of pointed is even more common. A pointed remark gets right to the heart of the matter, and might even hurt someone's feelings. If your mom gives you a pointed look, you probably know exactly what she's thinking about.
Vocabulary lists containing pointed
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.
He pointed out that while higher rates on future deals could be a risk, CoreWeave’s existing debt remain unchanged.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 17, 2026
As they have debated in recent weeks, the candidates haven't held back on deploying pointed personal attacks against their opponents.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Florence Lustman, head of France Assureurs, pointed to the "human tragedies" behind the figures and expressed the industry's "solidarity".
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
They pointed out that if the amount of water flowing into Lake Mead decreases further, it will trigger the state’s right to sue its upriver neighbors for a violation of the compact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The slender hands of the clock on the stair wall pointed to 9:25 as we left the dining room that night.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
