From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpenetratingpen‧e‧trat‧ing /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/ adjective 1 → penetrating look/eyes/gaze etc2 UNDERSTANDshowing an ability to understand things quickly and completely questions that are intelligent and penetrating a penetrating analysis of the issue3 SPREADspreading and reaching everywhere the penetrating cold4 CLOUD/NOISYa penetrating sound is loud, clear, and often unpleasant a high, penetrating voice —penetratingly adverb
Examples from the Corpus
penetrating• Trying by cupping his hand over the clasps to avoid the penetrating clicks of opening, George lifted the lid.• penetrating cold• This differs radically from the popular image of penetrating falsehood by perception of the liar.• The book offers some penetrating insights into how government works.• Fish do not find worms that look like that and hooks lose so much of their penetrating power.• a penetrating question• He then answered the many penetrating questions put to him.• a penetrating sealer for wood• The closed clubface at impact reduces loft and results in a penetrating shot through the wind.• He spoke in a penetrating voice that made all the other customers look on with interest.• a penetrating whistle 