Incisive (adjective)
in·ci·sive [in-sahy-siv]
adjective
1. penetrating; cutting; biting; trenchant: an incisive tone of voice.
2. remarkably clear and direct; sharp; keen; acute: an incisive method of summarizing the issue.
3. adapted for cutting or piercing.
4. of or pertaining to the incisors: the incisive teeth.
RELATED WORDS
trenchant, penetrating, piercing, concise, scathing, acerbic, sardonic, satirical, succinct, caustic, biting, mordant, terse, acute, bright, clever, keen, perspicacious, profound, sharp
Related forms
in·ci·sive·ly , adverb
in·ci·sive·ness , noun
un·in·ci·sive , adjective
un·in·ci·sive·ly , adverb
un·in·ci·sive·ness , noun
Synonyms
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
1. acid, mordant; sarcastic, sardonic.
Origin: 1520–30; < Medieval Latin incisivus. See incise, -ive
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR INCISIVE
His correspondence, much of which survives, is that of an incisive and articulate observer.
STONEWALL JACKSON, VMI’S MOST EMBATTLED PROFESSOR|S. C. GWYNNE|NOVEMBER 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
John Jenkins describes Miller as an “ incisive witness both to scientific acumen and religious belief.”
MEET THE PRIZEWINNING CATHOLIC BIOLOGIST CREATIONISTS CAN’T STAND|KARL W. GIBERSON|APRIL 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But unlike Bloom and Eagleton, his books have been, while erudite and incisive , unashamedly populist.
JOHN SUTHERLAND‘S ENJOYABLE LITTLE HISTORY OF LITERATURE|MALCOLM FORBES|NOVEMBER 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It took time, but Hemingway eventually met his match in the incisive Kenneth Lynn.
NORMAN MAILER: A LIFE LIVED LOUD|ADAM BEGLEY|OCTOBER 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The ideas in these comics are more subtle and incisive than simply depicting the imprisonment of the capitalist metropolis.
SMOKED FISH SURREALISM: BEN KATCHOR’S COMICS OF NYC NEUROTICS|JACOB SIEGEL|MARCH 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He had no right and no wish to know what the other man chose to conceal beneath that curt and incisive manner.
THE SHEPHERD OF THE NORTH|RICHARD AUMERLE MAHER
A faintly quizzical look came into the man's incisive stare.
V. V.'S EYES|HENRY SYDNOR HARRISON
The old man's voice grew suddenly clear and incisive , and Orsino broke off in the middle of his sentence.
DON ORSINO|F. MARION CRAWFORD
"It was sold for money, I suppose," he said with studied and incisive calmness.
AN OUTCAST OF THE ISLANDS|JOSEPH CONRAD
Wrede, in his incomparably succinct and incisive way, had the courage to say so.
THE ORIGIN OF PAUL'S RELIGION|J. GRESHAM MACHEN
