PIERCES Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

pierces

verb

present tense third-person singular of pierce

as in penetrates

to go or come in or into thoughts of revenge relentlessly pierced her mind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in drills

to make a hole or series of holes in pierced his ears with a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stabs

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object the saber pierced his chest, releasing a spurt of blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pierces An ice sculpture of a heart includes a tube through the ice arrow that pierces the heart. — Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 July 2026 And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old? — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026 Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear. — Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026 Piercing the Stones mythology Spitz’s deep reporting often pierces the mythology surrounding the band. — Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 Its 1959 Googie-style sign pierces the sky, a beacon of hope for weary road-trippers cruising this achingly lonely stretch of highway. — Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026 Lower the heat to medium-high and cook, gently stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and a paring knife easily pierces a potato, about 15 minutes. — C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026 Because of the way the director works, emotions tend to be more discussed than felt, although there’s something about Carla’s desperation that pierces through all the soberness. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026 Nothing that pierces the skin should ever be used as leverage over a child's opportunity to education and to learn. — CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pierces

Verb

The latter, on the other hand, has a smaller molecular makeup that penetrates deeper into the skin and provides longer lasting moisture retention.

— Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
Make sure water penetrates to the deep roots in addition to wetting surface roots.

— Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of penetrates

Verb

Other notes from Panthers-Jaguars practice First-round pick rookie offensive tackle Monroe Freeling held his own in one-on-one drills as well as team drills in practice on Wednesday.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
The plan was to use the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills to assess systems so Seoul could assume wartime operational control, Yu Ji-hoon, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, wrote in The Diplomat.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of drills

Verb

But before Bane can finish him off, Batman stabs a Batarang into a little knob on Bane’s wrist gauntlet, the one that controls his intake of Venom.

— Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
When Little Death stabs into their victim, there’s a geyser of blood, way more than could fit inside a human body.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of stabs

Verb

The Moon enters Sagittarius and your 3rd House of Communication, highlighting calls, messages, errands, siblings, neighbors, and daily logistics.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
In joining the list, the Okefenokee enters the rarified air of iconic places like the Galápagos Islands and the pyramids of Giza.

— AJC.com, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of enters

Verb

That Febreze bottle is empty and the scented candle burned out — the current Giants’ stink punches you right in the nose, mouth and eyes.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
After a 20-yard throw and catch, Andrew Chung to Yuto Kawamura-Johnson, Warriors RB Jayden Ammons punches it in for a 1-yard TD.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

That’s because when a snake bites and punctures the skin and transfers venom into the victim’s body, the venom attacks the skin, soft tissue and connective tissue beneath it.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
If a foreign object punctures the tread or sidewall, your tire can deflate slowly or quickly, depending on the puncture.

— Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026

Definition of punctures

Verb

The comparison is imperfect because a computer is a physical asset while a ChatGPT user accesses software through an existing phone or computer.

— Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
SerpApi accesses public search results, not Reddit’s platform, and public information does not become protected because a platform wants to charge for it.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

Definition of accesses

Verb

Upgrade a Laundry Room Vent holes in a laundry room might call to mind a traditional airing cupboard, but perhaps counterintuitively, that term actually refers to a heated cupboard for keeping towels dry rather than one in which air freely circulates.

— Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2026
Caulk holes around plumbing and sewer lines where roaches are likely to enter.

— Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 4 June 2026

Definition of holes

Browse Nearby Words

pierced

pierces

piercing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pierces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pierces. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pierces

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

devolve

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes