pointed
Americanadjective
-
having a point or points.
a pointed arch.
-
sharp or piercing.
pointed wit.
- Synonyms:
- epigrammatic, penetrating
-
having direct effect, significance, or force.
pointed criticism.
-
aimed; directed.
a pointed gun.
-
directed particularly, as at a person.
a pointed remark.
-
marked; emphasized.
An unusual turn of phrase, a well-placed emphasis, a choice of adjective, a pointed omission—all can turn an otherwise innocent sentence into a verbal dagger.
-
Heraldry. (of a cross) having parallel sides with points formed by two inclined sides on each end.
a cross pointed.
adjective
-
having a point
-
cutting or incisive
a pointed wit
-
obviously directed at or intended for a particular person or aspect
pointed criticism
-
emphasized or made conspicuous
pointed ignorance
-
(of an arch or style of architecture employing such an arch) Gothic
-
music (of a psalm text) marked to show changes in chanting
-
(of Hebrew text) with vowel points marked
Other Word Forms
- multipointed adjective
- pointedly adverb
- pointedness noun
- self-pointed adjective
- unpointed adjective
- well-pointed adjective
Etymology
Origin of pointed
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; point, -ed 2, -ed 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Block CEO Jack Dorsey’s shareholder letter pointed to “intelligence tools” as helping the company do more with a dramatically smaller number of employees.
From MarketWatch
Leon pointed to the possibility that Iran could target the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which around nearly a quarter of the world's seaborne oil supplies, in retaliation.
From Barron's
As some have pointed out on the social-media platform X and elsewhere, the Strait of Hormuz is not just for crude-oil shipments, with fertilizer also traversing the waterway.
From MarketWatch
In an open letter, he pointed to perks such as $2 hot meals for employees.
For years, researchers studying the Southern Ocean have pointed to one possible upside in an otherwise troubling climate outlook.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
