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1. Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
   "penetrating insight";
   - acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrative, piercing, sharp
    
2. Tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing
   "a cold penetrating wind"; "a penetrating odour";
   - penetrative

1. Pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
   "The bullet penetrated her chest";
   - perforate
    
2. Come to understand
   - fathom, bottom
    
3. Become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
   "she was penetrated with sorrow";
   - click, get through, dawn, come home, get across, sink in, fall into place
    
4. Enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members
   "The student organization was penetrated by a traitor";
   - infiltrate
    
5. Make one's way deeper into or through
   "The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest"
    
6. Insert the penis into the vagina or anus of
   "Did the molester penetrate the child?"
    
7. Spread or diffuse through
   "music penetrated the entire building";
   - permeate, pervade, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue, riddle

See also: perceptive, sharp

Type of: advance, come in, enter, fall in, get in, get into, get together, go in, go into, go on, infix, insert, introduce, join, march on, move into, move on, pass on, progress, understand

Encyclopedia: Penetrate