adj. 25B6; adjective
a piercing shriek : SHRILL, ear-splitting, high-pitched, penetrating, strident, loud.
the piercing wind : BITTER, biting, cutting, penetrating, sharp, keen, stinging, raw; freezing, frigid, glacial, arctic, chill.
a piercing pain : INTENSE, excruciating, agonizing, sharp, stabbing, shooting, stinging, severe, extreme, fierce, searing, racking.
his piercing gaze : SEARCHING, probing, penetrating, penetrative, shrewd, sharp, keen.
his piercing intelligence : PERCEPTIVE, percipient, perspicacious, penetrating, discerning, discriminating, intelligent, quick-witted, sharp, sharp-witted, shrewd, insightful, keen, acute, astute, clever, smart, incisive, razor-edged, trenchant.