penetrating adjective
[more penetrating; most penetrating] 1 a : able to understand something clearly and fully
▪ She is one of our most penetrating and provocative critical thinkers. ▪ a penetrating mind
b : helping people to understand something clearly and fully
▪ an author famous for her penetrating social commentary ▪ a penetrating account of what really happened during the crisis 2 : spreading out deeply or widely
▪ penetrating cold ▪ flowers that give off a penetrating perfume 3 of sounds : loud and clear and sometimes unpleasant
▪ a deep, penetrating voice ▪ a baby's penetrating wail 4 ◊People who have penetrating eyes or a penetrating gaze/stare/look make you feel uncomfortable by looking at you in a way that makes you feel that they know what you are thinking.
▪ She transfixed me with a penetrating gaze.
▪ She is one of our most penetrating and provocative critical thinkers. ▪ a penetrating mind
b : helping people to understand something clearly and fully
▪ an author famous for her penetrating social commentary ▪ a penetrating account of what really happened during the crisis
▪ penetrating cold ▪ flowers that give off a penetrating perfume
▪ a deep, penetrating voice ▪ a baby's penetrating wail
▪ She transfixed me with a penetrating gaze.
— pen·e·trat·ing·ly adverb
▪ a penetratingly sweet aroma
▪ a penetratingly sweet aroma
