piercing

pierce (one's) heart

To impact one on a deep, emotionally meaningful level; to stir a strong emotion in one, especially sadness, pity, etc. When the lights came on, the room was silent, and you could tell the documentary had pierced everyone's heart. It pierced my heart seeing my father's new one-bedroom apartment, with its bare walls and random assortment of appliances and utensils.

See also: heart, pierce

pierce through

To penetrate, perforate, or cut through someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pierce" and "through." Rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds. The metal beam that had been hurled by the tornado pierced the building clean through. The bullet didn't hit any organs when it pierced through him.

See also: pierce, through

piercing scream

An extremely loud and shrill scream or shriek. Her piercing screams could be heard for miles around. He let out a piercing scream as the knife plunged into his thigh.

See also: piercing, scream

pierce through something

to poke through something; to penetrate something. He pierced through the meat with a fork and then put it in a spicy marinade. Mary pierced the yarn through with the knitting needles.

See also: pierce, through

piercing scream

Fig. a very loud and shrill scream. Suddenly, there was a piercing scream from the next room. Bob heard Susan's piercing scream and ran to help her.

See also: piercing, scream