pierced; piercing
1
a
: to run into or through as a pointed weapon does : stab
b
: to enter or thrust into sharply or painfully
2
: to make a hole through : perforate
3
: to force or make a way into or through
4
: to penetrate with the eye or mind : discern
5
: to penetrate so as to move or touch the emotions of
: to force a way into or through something
piercer
noun
Examples of pierce in a Sentence
The needle pierced her skin.
The bullet pierced his lung.
The needle pierced into her skin.
The bullet pierced through his lung.
A scream pierced the silence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite optimism that Ukraine could reclaim more of its occupied territories, its counteroffensive in the summer of 2023 failed to significantly pierce Russia’s defenses.
—
Christian Edwards, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Money illusion — the common human failure to pierce the veil imposed by inflation — has obscured that reality.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
When a boom and distant gunfire pierce the calm, Mr. Adler gazes skyward and says that this is why his family remains at a temporary home two hours north, near Haifa.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
The atmosphere between songs was so reverent that somebody was moved to pierce the tension by blasting an ironic airhorn.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2024
The bullet pierced her chest and exited her back, lodging in Souza’s shoulder.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Below, a collection of the best multi hoop earrings and cuffs that serve as an optical illusion—requiring only one (or none at all) piercing.
—Mekaylah Yowpp-Hernacki, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
The other officer was struck three times — two bullets hitting his back, while another struck him in the pelvis and pierced his abdomen, causing severe internal damage that forced him to undergo four separate surgeries.
—Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2024
In response to the truck's presence, the wild animal charged toward the vehicle and tossed it several times, per the AP, almost piercing the truck with its tusks.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Christian Edwards, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Money illusion — the common human failure to pierce the veil imposed by inflation — has obscured that reality.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
When a boom and distant gunfire pierce the calm, Mr. Adler gazes skyward and says that this is why his family remains at a temporary home two hours north, near Haifa.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
The atmosphere between songs was so reverent that somebody was moved to pierce the tension by blasting an ironic airhorn.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2024
The bullet pierced her chest and exited her back, lodging in Souza’s shoulder.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Below, a collection of the best multi hoop earrings and cuffs that serve as an optical illusion—requiring only one (or none at all) piercing.
—Mekaylah Yowpp-Hernacki, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
The other officer was struck three times — two bullets hitting his back, while another struck him in the pelvis and pierced his abdomen, causing severe internal damage that forced him to undergo four separate surgeries.
—Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2024
In response to the truck's presence, the wild animal charged toward the vehicle and tossed it several times, per the AP, almost piercing the truck with its tusks.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pierce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pierce
Cite this Entry
“Pierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pierce. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pierce
verb
pierced; piercing
1
a
: to run into or through as a pointed weapon does : stab
b
: to enter or thrust into sharply or painfully
2
: to make a hole in or through
have one's ears pierced
3
: to force or make a way into or through
pierce the enemy's line
4
: to penetrate with the eye or mind : see through
5
: to stir the emotions of : move
piercer
noun
Legal Definition
pierce
transitive verb
pierced; piercing
: to see through the usually misleading or false appearance of
the object of summary judgment is to pierce the pleadings and allow a judgment on the merits—J. H. Friedenthal et al.
J. H. Friedenthal et al.the Internal Revenue Service may attempt to pierce the plain meaning of the agreement—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.Biographical Definition
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