: a piece of jewelry (such as a ring or stud) that is attached to pierced flesh
Synonyms
Examples of piercing in a Sentence
Adjective
She looked at me with piercing eyes, and I was suddenly frightened that she knew what I had done.
I tried to avoid his piercing stare.
She felt a piercing sadness when she heard the news.
Noun
There's a small shop in town where they do tattooing and body piercing.
She got another ear piercing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
On a separate platform to the right of the action, three male chanters sit in a neat row, next to men playing the shamisen, a stringed instrument with a raw and piercing tone which is often used in vocal accompaniment.
—Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Charna Flam, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Khloé Kardashian, on the other hand, has been waiting much longer between piercings, and in that time has apparently developed a bit of a phobia.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for piercing 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Some of the most piercing instances in Emilia’s journey rely on Audiard’s penchant for indelible imagery.
—Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
On a separate platform to the right of the action, three male chanters sit in a neat row, next to men playing the shamisen, a stringed instrument with a raw and piercing tone which is often used in vocal accompaniment.
—Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
Although this is Kardashian’s latest fashion choice, the TV personality previously rocked the piercing.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Khloé Kardashian, on the other hand, has been waiting much longer between piercings, and in that time has apparently developed a bit of a phobia.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for piercing
Dictionary Entries Near piercing
Cite this Entry
“Piercing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piercing. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share