piercing meaning and definition

PIERCING adjective

Definition of piercing (adjective)

1. 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"
   • synonyms: acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, sharp
2. 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"
   • synonyms: cutting, keen, knifelike, lancinate, lancinating, stabbing