trenchant

[ tren-chuhnt ]

adjective

1. incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting:

   trenchant wit.

   Synonyms: acute, biting, sharp

2. vigorous; effective; energetic:

   a trenchant policy of political reform.

3. clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.

trenchant

/ ˈtrɛntʃənt /

adjective

1. keen or incisive

   trenchant criticism

2. vigorous and effective

   a trenchant foreign policy

3. distinctly defined

   a trenchant outline

4. archaic.
   sharp

   a trenchant sword

Derived Forms

• ˈtrenchantly, adverb
• ˈtrenchancy, noun

Other Words From

• trenchan·cy noun
• trenchant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of trenchant¹

1275–1325; Middle English tranchaunt < Anglo-French; Old French trenchant, present participle of trenchier to cut. See trench, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of trenchant¹

C14: from Old French trenchant cutting, from trenchier to cut; see trench

Example Sentences

The result is a trenchant commitment to right-wing values that provides the prism through which many Mormons interpret new crises.

From Washington Post

It’s a really nuanced and thoughtful book that won a million awards when it came out in 2018, and it’s especially trenchant on the responsibilities forced on to the families of incarcerated people.

From Vox

Whitehead and Jenkins are very different kinds of artists, the former a minimalist whose spare prose conceals allegories of remarkable depth and the latter an expressionist, infusing trenchant ideas into sounds and images laden with emotion.

From Time

They argue that this increasingly trenchant China must be resisted, not managed or negotiated with, and Hong Kong is the front line.

From Time

One of the most trenchant chapters in the book is deceptively simple.

From Washington Blade

Much looking forward to going on with what is apparently also a trenchant and enlightening book.

From The Daily Beast

The more trenchant and subtle criticism was that Republicans aren't bad people.

From The Daily Beast

Typically, the Internet exploded with trenchant commentary about the leather jacket Palin wore.

From The Daily Beast

Moss came to admire Wasserstein and his trenchant deconstruction of his fellow power brokers.

From The Daily Beast

From the Reagan ascension until recently, the most trenchant description of the prevailing vision was “Starve the Beast.”

From The Daily Beast

It is not every one that can handle an instrument of such trenchant power, yet delicate temper, as Nelson's sensitive genius.

From Project Gutenberg

It must be admitted that this is satire of a good trenchant sort.

From Project Gutenberg

The western demand for responsible government pointed the way, and Howe became, with Baldwin, its most trenchant advocate.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence, the transition is abrupt; although by no means conclusive as to any broad and trenchant line of ethnological demarcation.

From Project Gutenberg

The words with which the parable is pressed home are severe and trenchant; but they are nevertheless full of gospel grace.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acerbic
• biting
• caustic
• incisive
• mordant
• penetrating
• pointed
• pungent
• salient
• unsparing