ENGLISH
REFERENCE

incisive

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv// UK //ɪnsˈaɪsɪv// in·ci·sive

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.


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.

Synonyms
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.

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