pierce

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pierce differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pierce are enter, penetrate, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When might enter be a better fit than pierce?

While the synonyms enter and pierce are close in meaning, enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

When is penetrate a more appropriate choice than pierce?

While in some cases nearly identical to pierce, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

Where would probe be a reasonable alternative to pierce?

The synonyms probe and pierce are sometimes interchangeable, but probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pierce Each episode includes a big bang of truth, a reveal that disrupts not just Chloe’s flawless façade but also pierces her own sense of self and keeps viewers guessing about what’s coming next. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 May 2025 Via piercing dark humor — including cheeky thoughts from Jonathan’s mind as on-screen text sprinkled throughout — Benaim and writer-director Daniel Poler defy sanctimonious societal expectations imposed on individuals living with physical disabilities. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025 Rowan, an ear piercing and hypoallergenic jewelry studio backed by a medical advisory board, is set for a July opening in a 939-square-foot store. Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025 Jones was then shot in the face by a bullet that pierced both cheeks. John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pierce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pierce
Verb
  • The sprawling but penetrating 4½ hour documentary about French complicity with its Nazi captors during the war exploded the myth that the French resisted their occupiers.
    Richard Natale, Variety, 26 May 2025
  • The difference between the two can be broken down as follows: Mineral Sunscreens Mineral sunscreens, also known as physical sunscreens, block the sun’s harmful UV rays from penetrating the skin.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Chisholm, fresh off the injured list following an oblique strain, drilled Tanner Bibee’s first pitch of the frame at 105.7 mph.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 June 2025
  • Bryant continued making timely plays by drilling a corner 3 with about eight minutes left in the third quarter, his second of the night, to push Indiana’s lead to 11 points.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has tried for months to find a Boise man — accused of stabbing his roommate to death — competent enough to stand trial for his first-degree murder charge.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 6 June 2025
  • He was identified as Maximillion Luz Flores Hernández of the same block where he was fatally stabbed, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
    Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • Through the first quarter, $6.1 billion of the $9.1 billion total entered as air cargo, with $2.05 billion as ocean freight and the remainder crossing over land.
    Ken Roberts, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Jin’s Echo enters at No. 2 with 35,000 sold, garnering the singer his second effort to reach the top three.
    Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • When the victim initially resisted, the suspect kicked and punched him and forcibly grabbed a wad of cash from the vehicle, police said.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
  • The inmate told prison staff that around 4:30 p.m. on March 7, two other inmates came into his cell, tied him up, kicked and punched him and poked him with a knife, police said.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • The Big Red punctured the scoreboard first when sophomore attackman Ryan Waldman dodged the left alley and scored with 10:38 left in the first quarter.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
  • Memories linger from past hurricanes with limbs puncturing roofs, car windows smashed and lives disrupted.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Plasencia Enclosed within medieval walls and accessed through city gates, Plasencia invites strolling past historic buildings and bustling markets.
    Carlsen Jes, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2025
  • The top-load filter cartridges are easy to access and clean, making maintenance straightforward.
    Jené Luciani Sena may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • That victory put O’Malley back in the rankings. O’Malley’s next bout ended in a no contest, when an eye poke in the second round left Pedro Munhoz unable to continue.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev poked fun at the explosive war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, offering to mediate peace between the two political allies.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pierce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pierce. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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