POINTED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pointed mean? 

• POINTED (adjective)
  The adjective POINTED has 2 senses:

1. having a point

2. direct and obvious in meaning or reference; often unpleasant

  Familiarity information: POINTED used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POINTED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having a point

Similar:

acanthoid; acanthous; spinous (shaped like a spine or thorn)

acuate; acute; needlelike; sharp (ending in a sharp point)

barreled; barrelled ((of an arrow) tapered toward both ends)

bristle-pointed (pointed like bristles)

five-pointed (having five points)

cigar-shaped; fusiform; spindle-shaped (tapering at each end)

nibbed ((used of pens) having a writing point or nib especially of a certain kind)

peaked (having or rising to a peak)

pyramidal; pyramidic; pyramidical (resembling a pyramid)

sharpened (having the point made sharp)

six-pointed (having six points)

spiked (having a long sharp point)

spikelike (resembling a spike)

Also:

sharp (having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing)

angular; angulate (having angles or an angular shape)

Antonym:

pointless (not having a point especially a sharp point)

Derivation:

pointedness (the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Direct and obvious in meaning or reference; often unpleasant

Context example:

another pointed look in their direction

Similar:

direct (straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action)

Derivation:

pointedness (the quality of being obviously directed at a particular person or thing)

 Context examples 

Instead, he pointed towards the wall of darkness that pressed about them from every side.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Not too long ago, I had a friendly eclipse close to my birthday that pointed to changes in my home or family.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I looked at the mark to which his finger pointed, and I gave a sudden cry of joy. I believe I have it! Follow me! Follow me!

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Animal studies also pointed to an effect of high blood sugar in worsening stroke injury.

(Researchers get a handle on how to control blood sugar after stroke, National Institutes of Health)

Prior studies had pointed to an increase in heart attack risk from using NSAIDs, but this study looked at timing, dose and the duration of taking the medicine.

(Common Painkillers Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Attack, VOA)

She pointed to the rocking-chair: I took it.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The analysis pointed to target disease genes at six of the 34 AMD loci identified in the earlier research.

(New study about genes linked to age-related macular degeneration, National Institutes of Health)

Once they are firing at full capacity, the thrusters can do no more to keep Cassini stably pointed, and the spacecraft will begin to tumble.

(Cassini Spacecraft Makes Its Final Approach to Saturn, NASA)

It should be pointed out that this is not a desperate situation.

(Aedes mosquitoes almost impossible to eradicate, says Brazilian researcher, Agência Brasil)

Hopkins pointed to a half-opened drawer.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)