Word
incisive
Phoneticsin·ci·sive, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/
UK/ɪnsˈaɪsɪv/
Definition
adj. describing something that is very sharp, clear, and direct. You use this to talk about a person's mind or a piece of writing that cuts through confusion to find the truth.
adj. characterised by sharpness, clarity, and directness of expression or thought. Often describes a person's intellect or a critical analysis that pierces through complexity.
Examples
“She gave an incisive analysis of the problem.”
“The journalist's incisive questions forced the politician to admit the truth about the scandal.”
“The author's incisive observations of Victorian society reveal a deep understanding of the social pressures that constrained individual freedom during that era.”
Examples
simple
“She gave an incisive analysis of the problem.”
contextual
“The journalist's incisive questions forced the politician to admit the truth about the scandal.”
complex
“The author's incisive observations of Victorian society reveal a deep understanding of the social pressures that constrained individual freedom during that era.”
Real-World Examples
“England, who had shown plenty of promise down the wings, made the visitors pay with an incisive counter-attacking goal after winning the ball back deep in their own half.” “It had looked as though Jeglertz’s City were set for a routine evening when Hemp met Carlotta Wamser’s incisive inside ball and sent a controlled, low finish into the far bottom corner.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/incisive