piercing

Universal Words adjective 1 [usuallybeforenoun] (of eyes or the way they look at sb) seeming to notice things about another person that would not normally be noticed, especially in a way that makes that person feel anxious or embarrassed: She looked at me with piercing blue eyes. * a piercing look / gaze 2 [usuallybeforenoun] (of sounds) very high, loud and unpleasant: a piercing shriek / scream / whistle * She has such a piercing voice. 3 [onlybeforenoun] (of feelings) affecting you very strongly, especially in a way that causes you pain: piercing sadness / fear / nostalgia 4 (of the wind or cold) very strong and feeling as if it can pass through your clothes and skin 5 [onlybeforenoun] sharp and able to make a hole in sth: The belly of the animal is covered in long piercing spikes. piercingly adverb: His eyes were piercingly blue. * The weather remained piercingly cold.