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Synonyms

pointed

American  
[poin-tid] / ˈpɔɪn tɪd /

adjective

  1. having a point or points.

    a pointed arch.

  2. sharp or piercing.

    pointed wit.
    Synonyms:
    epigrammatic, penetrating
    Antonyms:
    dull, blunt

  3. having direct effect, significance, or force.

    pointed criticism.

  4. aimed; directed.

    a pointed gun.

  5. directed particularly, as at a person.

    a pointed remark.

  6. 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.

  7. Heraldry. (of a cross) having parallel sides with points formed by two inclined sides on each end.

    a cross pointed.
pointed British  
/ ˈpɔɪntɪd /

adjective

  1. having a point

  2. cutting or incisive

    a pointed wit

  3. obviously directed at or intended for a particular person or aspect

    pointed criticism

  4. emphasized or made conspicuous

    pointed ignorance

  5. (of an arch or style of architecture employing such an arch) Gothic

  6. music (of a psalm text) marked to show changes in chanting

  7. (of Hebrew text) with vowel points marked

"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

Other Word Forms

  • multipointed adjective
  • pointedly adverb
  • pointedness noun
  • self-pointed adjective
  • unpointed adjective
  • well-pointed adjective

Etymology

Origin of pointed

A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; point, -ed 2, -ed 3

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 the Netanyahu case, conspiracy theorists pointed to an AI detection tool that falsely labeled his coffee shop video as "96.9 percent AI-generated."

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Asian stocks gave up early gains to close in the red, and U.S. futures pointed down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The former congresswoman, who gained fame for her aggressive questioning of chief executives and Trump administration officials while in Congress, also pointed to her longtime focus on oversight.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Several justices also pointed to the 1898 Supreme Court ruling, United States v.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

She raised her eyebrows in a very pointed way.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Definitions 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.