ear-piercing
1
4.1
- adjective
- /ˈɪrˌpɪr.sɪŋ/
- It was strident, ear-piercing, yet completely without passion and emotion, as if her vocal cords were the unwitting vehicle of a cry that came from elsewhere.
- ear-piercing shriek
- ear-piercing screams
- ear-piercing wail
Examples
-
The motorcycle continues sliding and spinning with an ear-piercing howl for one entire city block.
Fiction book (1990) -
As the fire alarm rang, the ear-piercing noise made everyone cover their ears.
-
Besides, just about everybody on that side of the store had stopped and turned to look, hoping to discover from where the ear-piercing scream had come.
Blog text (12) -
A growl came again, followed by an ear-piercing cry, and Tommy was spinning back.
Blog text (25) -
I finished playing the song and as I did, an ear piercing shriek blasted on my TV.
-
Loud, ear-piercing sounds of music came from the cafes' loudspeakers and filled the streets.
Fiction book (1996) -
A shrill scream cut through the roar, suddenly ear-piercing as the door of his office burst open.
Fiction book (2001) -
I gripped my magic bag as the steam discharged from the pistons, accompanied by a shrieking, ear-piercing whistle.
Fiction book (1993) -
Ambulance after ambulance—there seemed to be hundreds—passed with ear-piercing screams, each tightening the faces of those who were walking because the buses had stopped running.
Fiction book (1998) -
The children's ear-piercing laughter filled the playground as they played tag.
Synonyms
31
4.8
A very high, sharp sound that is unpleasant and loud
20
6.1
A loud, harsh sound that feels unpleasant and surprising
9
3.5
An extremely loud sound that makes it hard to hear or causes temporary loss of hearing
2
5.5
A very sharp, intense feeling or sound that seems to cut
1
4.4
A very loud, unpleasant sound that hurts your ears
1
6.2
A harsh, unpleasant sound or voice that is hard to listen to
1
4.1
A high, sharp sound made by a mouse or brakes
Very loud in a way that hurts your ears
Antonyms
How Piercing
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word ear-piercing combines ear and piercing, which comes from the verb pierce meaning 'to make a hole'. Think of a sound that feels like a needle in your ear, sharp, loud, and uncomfortable to hear, and that image explains why we call very high, harsh noises ear-piercing.