piercing

Meanings

• cut or make a way through
• move or affect (a person's emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply
• sound sharply or shrilly
• penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
• make a hole into
• having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
• painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
  • "piercing knifelike pains"
  • "piercing cold"
  • "piercing criticism"

Synonyms

acute, cutting, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, lancinate, lancinating, penetrating, penetrative, pierce, sharp, stabbing, thrust