insightful
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of insightful
Explanation
What English teachers want from students writing papers is insightful analysis –– thinking that sees beyond the obvious and expresses an original thought. With this word, remember in- and -sight-. When you have the ability to look (sight) inside (in) something––a painting, a discussion, a situation––and find what others aren't seeing, you are being insightful. An insightful person is someone capable of deep, insightful thinking.
Vocabulary lists containing insightful
Positive Words to Describe People, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words to Describe a Novel or a Story
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Cover Letter Language
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These views may be insightful, but they rarely tell us what the wider scientific community thinks.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
But he knows what it felt like and in an insightful chat with his former United team-mate on Rio Ferdinand Presents: The Debrief,, external Giggs offered this assessment:
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
He also wrote a weekly column, “Capital Journal,” which brought an insightful, predictive and original understanding to politics, national affairs and foreign policy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Hinterhäuser is also an insightful pianist, and he joined baritone Matthias Goerne in a chilling performance of Schubert’s existential song cycle, “Winterreise.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
He wondered if anyone else was insightful enough to know why he did what he did.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
