Meanings
comparative more penetrating · superlative most penetrating
- Able to pierce or penetrate
The skunk produces a penetrating odor.
1 more example
As the rest of the film was made on location in the railway yards of Havre and not in a studio, and was given a sound-track of penetrating vividness, this whole production gives the closest possible ring of truth of any film about railways.
1958 February 28, David Gunston, “Railways on the Screen”, in Railway Magazine, page 89 - Demonstrating acute or keen understanding
His novel shows a penetrating insight into the criminal mind.
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of penetrate
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivehaving or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
adjectivetending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Bulgarian проникващ, пронизващ
- проникващ (pronikvašt)able to pierce or penetrate
- пронизващ (pronizvašt)able to pierce or penetrate
- проницателен (pronicatelen)demonstrating keen understanding
Dutch indringend
- indringenddemonstrating keen understanding
Finnish läpitunkeva, viiltävä
- läpitunkevaable to pierce or penetrate
- viiltäväable to pierce or penetrate
- viiltävädemonstrating keen understanding
- syvällinendemonstrating keen understanding
French pénétrant
- pénétrantable to pierce or penetrate
Greek διαπεραστικός
- διαπεραστικός (diaperastikós)able to pierce or penetrate
Irish tolltach
- tolltachable to pierce or penetrate
Latin penetrālis
- penetrālisable to pierce or penetrate
Māori tīwharawhara
- tīwharawharaable to pierce or penetrate
Persian نافذ
- نافذ (nâfez)able to pierce or penetrate
Ukrainian прони́кливий, прони́кливий
- прони́кливий (pronýklyvyj)able to pierce or penetrate
- прони́кливий (pronýklyvyj)demonstrating keen understanding
Welsh treiddgar, treiddiol
- treiddgarable to pierce or penetrate
- treiddiolable to pierce or penetrate
- treiddgardemonstrating keen understanding
- craffdemonstrating keen understanding
Cite this entry
penetrating. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penetrating
“penetrating.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penetrating. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “penetrating,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penetrating.
Source: penetrating on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.