pierced

Made a hole

Pierced describes something that has been punctured or penetrated, creating a hole or opening.

Body parts are pierced for jewelry: pierced ears, a pierced nose.

The word often appears as an adjective describing someone who has such piercings: She's heavily pierced.

Figuratively, something can pierce the heart or soul—a pierced heart suggests emotional wounding.

A piercing sound or gaze is sharp and penetrating.

wound

stabbed

Pierced with blade

punctureHole from penetration
impaledPierced through forcibly
penetratedPassed into or through

skewered · speared · bayoneted · arrowed · gashed · lacerated · perforated · pricked · jabbed · lanced

hole

punctured

Penetrated by sharp object

perforatedHaving holes throughout
boredLacking interest or engagement
drilledPierced or rehearsed repeatedly

aperture · opening · perforation · eyelet · grommet · slit · slot · fenestrated · pinhole · sieve

body

earrings

Jewelry worn on lobes

studsStructural wall timbers
hoopsCircular bands or rims
septumInternal anatomical partition

belly-button · cartilage · tragus · helix · labret · industrial · dermal · gauges · plugs · tapers

emotional

heart

Circulatory system's pump

soulInnermost animating essence
woundedHaving sustained harm
strickenSeriously affected by adversity

cut · touched · moved · affected · struck · grief · sorrow · anguish · pang · heartbroken

pain

sting

Sharp wound from insect

sharpFine-edged, or astute
throbBeat with intensity
tenderSoft or sore

sensitive · smarting · twinge · sore · raw · inflamed · throbbing · stinging · burning · aching

jewelry

studs

Structural wall timbers

hoopsCircular bands or rims
danglyHanging loosely, swaying
gemstonesPolished ornamental minerals

silver · gold · platinum · diamonds · sapphires · rubies · emeralds · pendant · charm · anklet

Categories

damageddamaged, broken, wrecked, ruined, destroyed
appearancestall, short, thin, fat, slim
meat tenderizing methodspounded, beaten, marinated, hammered, scored
porous thingsporous, permeable, sponge, mesh, sieve
woundswound, wounded, bullet wound, wounds, ulcer

Opposites

physical integrity

piercedintact

Not damaged or altered

whole · unbroken · unpierced · solid · impenetrable

body modification status

piercedunpierced

Having no holes

nonpierced · natural · unmodified · unadorned · plain

barrier function

piercedsealed

Closed to prevent entry

intact · airtight · closed · watertight · inflated

Phrases

pierced ears
septum piercingOrnament through nasal divider
piercing toneHarsh, penetrating sound
body piercingPuncturing flesh for adornment
nose piercing
piercing stare

Family

piercing, pierce, pierces, piercings, unpierced, pierceable

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG