perceptive

[ per-sep-tiv ]

adjective

1. having or showing keenness of insight, understanding, or intuition:

   a perceptive analysis of the problems involved.

   Synonyms: astute, keen, sensitive, discerning

2. having the power or faculty of perceiving.
3. of, relating to, or showing perception.

perceptive

/ pəˈsɛptɪv /

adjective

1. quick at perceiving; observant
2. perceptual
3. able to perceive

Derived Forms

• perˈceptively, adverb
• perˈceptiveness, noun

Other Words From

• per·ceptive·ly adverb
• percep·tivi·ty per·ceptive·ness noun
• nonper·ceptive adjective
• nonper·ceptive·ly adverb
• nonper·ceptive·ness noun
• nonper·cep·tivi·ty noun
• self-per·ceptive adjective
• semi·per·ceptive adjective
• unper·ceptive adjective
• unper·ceptive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of perceptive¹

1650–60; < Latin percept ( us ) ( percept ) + -ive

Example Sentences

And, as the enigmatic front man to an avant garde indie rock group, he is droll, perceptive, and splendidly weird.

From The Daily Beast

He was highly perceptive and exquisitely sensitive to everything around him.

From The Daily Beast

Yet his narrative is gripping, perceptive, and moving at times, even if his conclusions are highly debatable.

From The Daily Beast

Perceptive fiction has always been a venue for society to ruminate on the moral issues of the day.

From The Daily Beast

Willa is a wonderfully smart and funny and perceptive and engaging little kid.

From The Daily Beast

Let justice be done and The Unpetitioned Heavens fall to a wide circle of perceptive readers.

From Project Gutenberg

They educate, they exalt, they preserve; so that to profit by them we must be as perceptive as we can.

From Project Gutenberg

But to Forrester's Godlike, abnormally perceptive vision, the park seemed no darker than it had at dusk, an hour or so before.

From Project Gutenberg

But the matter is complicated by the fact that things are experienced in different connections in perceptive experience.

From Project Gutenberg

For our education depends very materially upon our perceptive power.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• astute
• discerning
• discreet
• incisive
• insightful
• intuitive
• knowing
• knowledgeable
• observant
• penetrating
• wise