— piercingly , adv. — piercingness , n.
/pear"sing/ , adj.
1. loud or shrill, as the quality of a voice.
2. extremely cold or bitter: a piercing wind.
3. appearing to gaze deeply or penetratingly into something: piercing eyes.
4. perceptive or aware; acute: a piercing mind.
5. sarcastic or caustic; cutting: piercing remarks.
[ 1375-1425; late ME; see PIERCE, -ING 2 ]
Syn. 1. grating, strident, screeching.