incisive

[ in-sahy-siv ]

adjective

1. penetrating; cutting; biting; trenchant:

   an incisive tone of voice.

   Synonyms: sardonic, sarcastic, mordant, acid

2. remarkably clear and direct; sharp; keen; acute:

   an incisive method of summarizing the issue.

3. adapted for cutting or piercing.
4. of or relating to the incisors:

   the incisive teeth.

incisive

/ ɪnˈsaɪsɪv /

adjective

1. keen, penetrating, or acute
2. biting or sarcastic; mordant

   an incisive remark

3. having a sharp cutting edge

   incisive teeth

Derived Forms

• inˈcisiveness, noun
• inˈcisively, adverb

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of incisive¹

From the Medieval Latin word incīsīvus, dating back to 1520–30. See incise, -ive

Example Sentences

In another move to try to staunch the bleeding from special counsel Jack Smith’s incisive investigation, Trump's legal team filed to request that evidence in the case scheduled to become public on Thursday stay sealed.

From Salon

With her dark humor and incisive style, Kolbert covers an impressive range of topics that both inform and inspire.

From Los Angeles Times

He transformed it from a superficial variety hour to a forum of thoughtful, incisive and robust debate surrounding the most important issues in the news and most intimate topics of a person’s life.

From Salon

He was a threat down the left, although Nelson was more incisive, which Leicester City may well have noted given the Foxes are keen on signing the 24-year-old.

From BBC

“Her books on antebellum visual culture are award-winning and represent the incisive, rigorous scholarship Yale faculty produce and that we want our students to study.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• acerbic
• biting
• caustic
• concise
• mordant
• penetrating
• sardonic
• satirical
• scathing
• succinct
• terse
• trenchant