incisive

[ in-sahy-siv ]
/ ɪnˈsaɪ sɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR incisive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

penetrating; cutting; biting; trenchant: an incisive tone of voice.
remarkably clear and direct; sharp; keen; acute: an incisive method of summarizing the issue.
adapted for cutting or piercing.
of or relating to the incisors: the incisive teeth.

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Origin of incisive

From the Medieval Latin word incīsīvus, dating back to 1520–30. See incise, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM incisive

Words nearby incisive

incised wound, incisiform, incision, incisional hernia, incision biopsy, incisive, incisive bone, incisive canal, incisive foramen, incisive fossa, incisive papilla
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to incisive

trenchant, penetrating, piercing, concise, scathing, acerbic, sardonic, satirical, succinct, caustic, biting, mordant, terse, acute, bright, clever, keen, perspicacious, profound, sharp

Example sentences from the Web for incisive

British Dictionary definitions for incisive

incisive
/ (ɪnˈsaɪsɪv) /

adjective

keen, penetrating, or acute
biting or sarcastic; mordantan incisive remark
having a sharp cutting edgeincisive teeth

Derived forms of incisive

incisively, adverbincisiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for incisive

incisive
[ ĭn-sī′sĭv ]

adj.

Having the power to cut.
Relating to the incisor teeth.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.