Peirce vs. Pierce — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Sumaia Saeed — Updated on April 19, 2024
"Peirce" is the incorrect spelling of "pierce," which means to make a hole or opening in something, usually with a sharp object.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Peirce or Pierce
How to spell Pierce?
Peirce
Incorrect Spelling
Pierce
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Visualize "pierce" as having a central "i" which can represent the act of puncturing or penetrating through the center.
Remember that "pierce" contains the word "pie," and just as a pie can be cut into, so can something be pierced.
Think of "pierce" as involving a sharp point, similar to the tip of an "i" which is dotted sharply.
"Pierce" shares its spelling pattern with similar sounding words like "piece," emphasizing the "ie" rather than "ei."
The correct "pierce" uses the more common vowel sequence "ie," following the rule "i before e except after c."
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How Do You Spell Pierce Correctly?
Incorrect: You must be careful not to peirce your finger with that sharp pin.
Correct: You must be careful not to pierce your finger with that sharp pin.
Incorrect: The loud sound seemed to peirce the silence of the night.
Correct: The loud sound seemed to pierce the silence of the night.
Incorrect: He tried to peirce the fabric with a blunt needle.
Correct: He tried to pierce the fabric with a blunt needle.
Incorrect: Her scream could peirce through the noise of the crowd.
Correct: Her scream could pierce through the noise of the crowd.
Pierce Definitions
To penetrate or pass into or through, usually referring to sound or other intangible things.
The cold wind pierced through their coats.
To see or understand something quickly and deeply.
His keen mind pierced the mystery.
To make a hole or opening in something with a sharp object.
The needle pierced the cloth with ease.
To affect deeply or sharply, as in emotions or feelings.
His words pierced her heart.
To cut or pass through with or as if with a sharp instrument; stab or penetrate.
To make a hole or opening in; perforate.
To make a way through
The path pierced the wilderness.
To sound sharply through
His shout pierced the din.
To succeed in penetrating (something) with the eyes or the intellect
Large glowing yellow eyes pierced the darkness.
To penetrate into or through something
The rocket pierced through space.
(transitive) To puncture; to break through.
The diver pierced the surface of the water with scarcely a splash.
To pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship
(transitive) To create a hole in the skin for the purpose of inserting jewelry.
Can you believe he pierced his tongue?
(transitive) to break or interrupt abruptly
A scream pierced the silence.
To get to the heart or crux of (a matter).
To pierce a mystery
To penetrate; to affect deeply.
(Japan) A pierced earring.
To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument.
To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship.
Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery.
Can no prayers pierce thee?
To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or through something, as a pointed instrument does; - used literally and figuratively.
And pierced to the skin, but bit no more.
She would not pierce further into his meaning.
14th President of the United States (1804-1869)
Cut or make a way through;
The knife cut through the flesh
The path pierced the jungle
Light pierced through the forest
Move or affect (a person's emotions, bodily feelings, etc.) deeply or sharply;
The cold pierced her bones
Her words pierced the students
Sound sharply or shrilly;
The scream pierced the night
Penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
Make a hole into;
The needle pierced her flesh
To create an opening in the body for inserting jewelry, commonly used in reference to ears or other body parts.
She decided to pierce her ears for her birthday.
Pierce Meaning in a Sentence
The doctor used a small tool to pierce the skin during the procedure.
The artist chose to pierce the canvas with colorful strokes.
Pierce Idioms & Phrases
Pierce through the heart
To cause deep emotional pain.
The news of his betrayal pierced through her heart.
Pierce one’s armor
To get through someone's emotional or physical defenses.
Her kindness pierced his armor of indifference.
Pierce the silence
To interrupt a period of quiet.
The sudden cry pierced the silence of the night.
Pierce the darkness
To provide light in a dark space.
The flashlight pierced the darkness of the cave.
Pierce the veil
To see or understand what is hidden or obscure.
His insight helped to pierce the veil of the complex issue.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in pierce?
There is one syllable in "pierce."
How do we divide pierce into syllables?
"Pierce" is a single-syllable word.
What is a stressed syllable in pierce?
The entire word "pierce" is stressed, as it is only one syllable.
How is pierce used in a sentence?
e.g., The surgeon had to pierce the skin to start the operation.
Why is it called pierce?
The term "pierce" comes from the Old French "percier," meaning to perforate or penetrate, reflecting the action of making a hole or opening.
What is the first form of pierce?
The first form of "pierce" is "pierce."
What part of speech is pierce?
"Pierce" is a verb.
What is the verb form of pierce?
"Pierce" itself is the verb form; other forms include "pierces," "pierced," and "piercing."
What is the pronunciation of pierce?
Pierce is pronounced /pɪərs/.
What is the second form of pierce?
The second form of "pierce" is "pierced."
What is the third form of pierce?
The third form of "pierce" is also "pierced."
What is another term for pierce?
Another term for "pierce" is "perforate."
What is the singular form of pierce?
As a verb, "pierce" remains the same in singular form.
What is the opposite of pierce?
The opposite of "pierce" is "seal" or "close."
Which determiner is used with pierce?
Determiners such as "a" or "the" can be used with "pierce," e.g., "a piercing look" or "the pierce of a needle."
What is the root word of pierce?
The root of "pierce" is the Old French "percier."
Is pierce a negative or positive word?
"Pierce" is neutral but can have negative or positive connotations depending on the context.
Is pierce a vowel or consonant?
The word "pierce" starts with a consonant.
Is pierce a countable noun?
As a verb, "pierce" does not apply to countability; as a noun, it can be countable (e.g., pierces as instances of piercing).
Is the pierce term a metaphor?
"Pierce" can be used metaphorically, especially in phrases like "pierce the heart."
Which vowel is used before pierce?
A vowel is not specifically used before "pierce"; it depends on the context.
Is pierce an adverb?
No, "pierce" is not an adverb.
Is pierce a collective noun?
No, "pierce" is not a collective noun.
Is the word pierce is imperative?
"Pierce" can be used as an imperative, as in "Pierce that now!"
Which conjunction is used with pierce?
Conjunctions are not specific to "pierce"; usage depends on sentence structure.
Which article is used with pierce?
The indefinite article "a" can be used with "pierce" when referring to an instance of piercing, e.g., "a pierce through the veil."
Is the word pierce Gerund?
The gerund form of "pierce" is "piercing."
What is the plural form of pierce?
As a verb, "pierce" does not have a plural form; it adapts to the subject.
Is pierce a noun or adjective?
"Pierce" is primarily a verb, but can also function as a noun.
Is pierce an abstract noun?
As a noun, "pierce" refers to the act of piercing, so it is not typically abstract.
Is the word “pierce” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Pierce" can serve as a verb that takes a direct object, e.g., "Pierce the paper."
Which preposition is used with pierce?
Common prepositions used with "pierce" include "through" and "into," e.g., "pierce through the fog" or "pierce into the darkness."
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Written by
Sumaia Saeed
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
