'Penetrating' definitions:
Definition of 'penetrating'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations" [syn: acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp]
adjective
Tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing; "a toxic penetrative spray applied to the surface"; "a cold penetrating wind"; "a penetrating odor" [syn: penetrative, penetrating]
Definition of 'Penetrating'
From: GCIDE
- Penetrating \Pen"e*tra`ting\, a.
- 1. Having the power of entering, piercing, or pervading; sharp; subtile; penetrative; as, a penetrating odor. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Acute; discerning; sagacious; quick to discover; as, a penetrating mind. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Penetrating'
From: GCIDE
- Penetrate \Pen"e*trate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penetrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Penetrating.] [L. penetratus, p. p. of penetrare to penetrate; akin to penitus inward, inwardly, and perh. to pens with, in the power of, penus store of food, innermost part of a temple.]
- 1. To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to effect an entrance into; to pierce; as, light penetrates darkness. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To affect profoundly through the senses or feelings; to touch with feeling; to make sensible; to move deeply; as, to penetrate one's heart with pity. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- The translator of Homer should penetrate himself with a sense of the plainness and directness of Homer's style. --M. Arnold. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To pierce into by the mind; to arrive at the inner contents or meaning of, as of a mysterious or difficult subject; to comprehend; to understand. [1913 Webster]
- Things which here were too subtile for us to penetrate. --Ray. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'penetrating'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- absorbing,
- acerb,
- acerbate,
- acerbic,
- acid,
- acidic,
- acidulent,
- acidulous,
- acrid,
- acrimonious,
- acute,
- algid,
- apperceptive,
- appercipient,
- arctic,
- argute,
- asperous,
- astringent,
- astute,
- below zero,
- biting,
- bitter,
- bitterly cold,
- bleak,
- boreal,
- brisk,
- brumal,
- caustic,
- clear-cut,
- clever,
- cogent,
- cold,
- cold as charity,
- cold as death,
- cold as ice,
- cold as marble,
- corroding,
- corrosive,
- creaky,
- crisp,
- cutting,
- deafening,
- deep,
- deep-felt,
- deepgoing,
- discerning,
- discriminating,
- double-edged,
- driving,
- ear-piercing,
- ear-splitting,
- edged,
- effective,
- escharotic,
- farseeing,
- farsighted,
- fierce,
- forceful,
- forcible,
- foreseeing,
- foresighted,
- forethoughted,
- forethoughtful,
- freezing,
- freezing cold,
- frigid,
- gelid,
- glacial,
- gutsy,
- harsh,
- heartfelt,
- hibernal,
- hiemal,
- homefelt,
- howling,
- hyperborean,
- ice-cold,
- ice-encrusted,
- icelike,
- icy,
- imperative,
- impressive,
- incisive,
- inclement,
- indelible,
- ingoing,
- intelligent,
- intense,
- irritating,
- keen,
- keening,
- longheaded,
- longsighted,
- loud,
- mordacious,
- mordant,
- nervous,
- nipping,
- nippy,
- nose-piercing,
- nose-tickling,
- numbing,
- perceptive,
- percipient,
- perspicacious,
- perspicuous,
- pervading,
- pervasive,
- piercing,
- pinching,
- piping,
- piquant,
- poignant,
- powerful,
- profound,
- provident,
- punchy,
- pungent,
- quick,
- quick-witted,
- raw,
- reedy,
- reeking,
- rigorous,
- rough,
- sagacious,
- scathing,
- scorching,
- screaky,
- screeching,
- screechy,
- searching,
- sensational,
- sensitive,
- severe,
- sharp,
- sharp-sighted,
- sharp-witted,
- shrieking,
- shrieky,
- shrill,
- Siberian,
- sinewed,
- sinewy,
- slashing,
- sleety,
- slushy,
- smart,
- snappy,
- sour,
- squeaking,
- squeaky,
- stabbing,
- stinging,
- stone-cold,
- strident,
- striking,
- stringent,
- strong,
- strong-scented,
- strong-smelling,
- subzero,
- suffocating,
- supercooled,
- tart,
- telling,
- thin,
- thundering,
- trenchant,
- ululant,
- understanding,
- vehement,
- vigorous,
- violent,
- virulent,
- vital,
- vitriolic,
- wailing,
- whining,
- whistling,
- winterbound,
- winterlike,
- wintery,
- wintry,
- withering