piercing piercing /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/

adjective

1. Painful as if caused by a sharp instrument  ( cutting , keen , knifelike , lancinate , lancinating , piercing , stabbing )
   painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
    A cutting wind
   a cutting wind
    Keen winds
   keen winds
    Knifelike cold
   knifelike cold
    Piercing knifelike pains
   piercing knifelike pains
    Piercing cold
   piercing cold
    Piercing criticism
   piercing criticism
    A stabbing pain
   a stabbing pain
    Lancinating pain
   lancinating pain
   
2. Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions  ( discriminating , knifelike , penetrative , acute , incisive , keen , penetrating , piercing , sharp )
   having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    An acute observer of politics and politicians
   an acute observer of politics and politicians
    Incisive comments
   incisive comments
    Icy knifelike reasoning
   icy knifelike reasoning
    As sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
   as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
    Penetrating insight
   penetrating insight
    Frequent penetrative observations
   frequent penetrative observations