What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
piercingly
Example
The baby's cry was so piercingly loud that it woke up the entire neighborhood. [piercingly: adverb]
Example
She looked at him piercingly, trying to read his thoughts. [piercingly: adverb]
Example
He felt a piercingly cold wind blowing through his coat. [piercingly: adverb]
penetratingly
Example
Her voice carried penetratingly across the room, even over the noise of the crowd. [penetratingly: adverb]
Example
He looked at her penetratingly, as if he could see into her soul. [penetratingly: adverb]
Example
The music had a penetratingly beautiful quality that moved the audience to tears. [penetratingly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Penetratingly is more commonly used than piercingly in everyday language, and is more versatile in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between piercingly and penetratingly?
Both piercingly and penetratingly are formal words that are typically used in written or spoken language that requires a higher level of vocabulary.
