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incisive

in·ci·sive

UK/ɪnˈsaɪ.sɪv/ US/ˌɪˈnsaɪsɪv/ uncommon

adjective

1.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

  • “an acute observer of politics and politicians”
  • “incisive comments”
  • “icy knifelike reasoning”
  • “as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang”
  • “penetrating insight”
  • “frequent penetrative observations”
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2.

very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation

  • “an incisive mind”
  • “a keen intelligence”
  • “of sharp and active intellect”
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3.

suitable for cutting or piercing

  • “incisive teeth”
  • “the piercing needle”
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Origin

Late Middle English (in the sense “cutting, penetrating”), borrowed from Medieval Latin incīsīvus, from incīdō (“to cut in, cut through”) + -īvus (“-ive”, adjectival suffix). Compare Middle French incisif.

Phrases

  • incisive bone
  • incisive canal
  • incisive fossa

Related words

Word family

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.