incisive
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.
Origin of incisive
1Other words for incisive
Other words from incisive
- in·ci·sive·ly, adverb
- in·ci·sive·ness, noun
- un·in·ci·sive, adjective
- un·in·ci·sive·ly, adverb
- un·in·ci·sive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use incisive in a sentence
Even while they could become annoyed by his hands-off approach, they admired his incisive questioning of graduate students and visitors giving presentations to the department.
The soft Southern burr of his ordinary conversation had given place to a clear incisiveness.
Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward WhiteCold, hard rays penetrate through the immense ruin, separating with a sharp incisiveness the light from the shadows.
Egypt (La Mort De Philae) | Pierre LotiYou are perfectly right, he said with sudden, smiting incisiveness.
A Singular Life | Elizabeth Stuart PhelpsBut the Coroner's voice broke in upon his flounderings with sharp incisiveness.
The Riddle of the Purple Emperor | Mary E. Hanshew and Thomas W. Hanshew
Carney asked, the crisp incisiveness of his voice wakening completely the rather fogged man.
Bulldog Carney | W. A. Fraser
British Dictionary definitions for incisive
/ (ɪnˈsaɪsɪv) /
keen, penetrating, or acute
biting or sarcastic; mordant: an incisive remark
having a sharp cutting edge: incisive teeth
Derived forms of incisive
- incisively, adverb
- incisiveness, 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
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