having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
Used in a Sentence
piercing
How to use piercing in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for piercing.
Editorial note
The thought of piercing something with a 10mm screw in a hole meant for a 6mm screw was scary.
Examples10
Definitions2
Parts of speech1
Quick take
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of piercing gathered in one view.
painful as if caused by a sharp instrument; "a cutting wind"; "keen winds"; "knifelike cold"; "piercing knifelike pains"; "piercing cold"; "piercing criticism"; "a stabbing pain"; "lancinating pain"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for piercing.
adjective
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
See also: acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, sharp
adjective
painful as if caused by a sharp instrument; "a cutting wind"; "keen winds"; "knifelike cold"; "piercing knifelike pains"; "piercing cold"; "piercing criticism"; "a stabbing pain"; "lancinating pain"
See also: cutting, keen, knifelike, stabbing, lancinate, lancinating
Example sentences
The thought of piercing something with a 10mm screw in a hole meant for a 6mm screw was scary.
I like to consider it a British penchant for piercing the corporate veil and de-reifying the collective.
A triangle wave sounds very close to a sine wave - a piercing pure tone - while being computationally inexpensive.
In much of America, use and possession of firearms is a strong cultural marker, like ear piercing or playing football or driving cars.
And he fled from the public eye into self-imposed exile when people started piercing his intentional veil of anonymity.
Even when he's snoozing while I've got him, I am virtually incapable of Zone when my brain knows that at any minute, a piercing scream that I must drop everything to service may emerge.
Someone able to rapidly bolt together a product that they subsequently ensconce with piercing marketing or another form of customer lock-in is a gold mine.
That's what "piercing the corporate veil" is about: when the owners of a company abuse the liability shield badly enough that they should be personally liable.
There are also reasons they stopped using it in the first place[1]:Some problems with this method were that the receiver could be triggered accidentally by naturally occurring noises, and some people could hear the piercing ultrasonic signals.
Imagine if the picture showed Snowden with two bodyguards, Secret Service types with sunglasses, or hackers with green-hair and piercing, or a stereotypical Russian and a Chinese next to him, what image in the popular psyche is more favorable to win him sympathy and show him in a positive light?Perhaps it was unintentional and Im reading too much into it, but still its better than being shown alone.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use piercing in a sentence?
The thought of piercing something with a 10mm screw in a hole meant for a 6mm screw was scary.
What does piercing mean?
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations"
What part of speech is piercing?
piercing is commonly used as adjective.