" piercingly "

1: as in sharply, keenly;

•  Synonyms : 

•  acutely,

•  harshly,

•  keenly,

•  poignantly,

•  severely,

•  sharply,

•  blackly,

•  darkly,

•  dismally,

•  distressfully,

•  distressingly,

•  dourly,

•  drearily,

•  forlornly,

•  gloomily,

•  glumly,

•  joylessly,

•  mirthlessly,

•  miserably,

•  morosely,

•  pessimistically,

•  somberly,

•  sullenly,

•  cruelly,

•  hurtfully,

•  ill,

•  rancorously,

•  abjectly,

•  cheerlessly,

•  crestfallenly,

•  dejectedly,

•  despairingly,

•  despondently,

•  disconsolately,

•  dispiritedly,

•  downheartedly,

•  low-spiritedly,

•  agonizingly,

•  bitterly,

•  dolefully,

•  dolorously,

•  grievously,

•  hard,

•  hardly,

•  inconsolably,

•  lugubriously,

•  mournfully,

•  painfully,

•  plaintively,

•  regretfully,

•  resentfully,

•  ruefully,

•  sadly,

•  sorely,

•  sorrowfully,

•  unhappily,

•  wailfully,

•  woefully,

•  wretchedly

•  Antonyms : 

•  blissfully,

•  gladly,

•  happily,

•  joyfully,

•  joyously,

•  cheerfully,

•  cheerily,

•  delightedly,

•  gaily,

•  gleefully,

•  good-naturedly,

•  lightheartedly,

•  merrily,

•  mirthfully,

•  rejoicingly,

•  sunnily,

•  blithely,

•  blithesomely,

•  calmly,

•  casually,

•  dispassionately,

•  easily,

•  impassively,

•  indifferently,

•  lightly,

•  nonchalantly,

•  stoically,

•  unconcernedly,

•  favorably,

•  well

1: causing intense discomfort to one's skin;

  * e.g., " ... that light sweater will be no match for the piercing wind outside "

•  Synonyms : 

•  biting,

•  bitter,

•  cutting,

•  keen,

•  penetrating,

•  raw,

•  sharp,

•  shrewd,

•  smarting,

•  stinging

•  Antonyms : 

•  gentle,

•  low,

•  soft

2: marked by a high volume of sound;

  * e.g., " ... the frightened child emitted a piercing shriek that could be heard all over the house "

•  Synonyms : 

•  blaring,

•  blasting,

•  booming,

•  clamorous,

•  clangorous,

•  deafening,

•  earsplitting,

•  loud,

•  plangent,

•  resounding,

•  ringing,

•  roaring,

•  slam-bang,

•  sonorous,

•  stentorian,

•  thundering,

•  thunderous

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)