penetrative

[ pen-i-trey-tiv ]

/ ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪ tɪv /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for penetrative on Thesaurus.com

adjective

tending to penetrate; piercing.

acute; keen.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of penetrative

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word penetrātīvus.See penetrate, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM penetrative

pen·e·tra·tive·ly, adverbpen·e·tra·tive·ness, pen·e·tra·tiv·i·ty

[pen-i-truh-tiv-i-tee], /ˌpɛn ɪ trəˈtɪv ɪ ti/, nounun·pen·e·tra·tive, adjectiveun·pen·e·tra·tive·ly, adverb

Words nearby penetrative

penetrate, penetrating, penetrating wound, penetration, penetration aid, penetrative, penetrometer, Peneus, Penfield, pen friend, Peng Dehuai

How to use penetrative in a sentence

He has a voice not dissimilar in timbre and penetrative ability to the incredibly annoying comedian Stephen Merchant.
The Addictive Curse of ‘Let’s Plays’|Tom Sykes|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He saw the royal glance, cold and penetrative, before which all bowed and heads were bared.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
Gozzi was gifted with a penetrative and observant mind, strong sense of humour, and a power of brilliant description.
The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi; Volume the first|Count Carlo Gozzi
After a series of penetrative flashes, flattering to her intelligence the more startling they were, reflection was exhausted.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith

They had a curiously penetrative quality, too, which seemed to dispel the repugnant effect of the accident.
The Terms of Surrender|Louis Tracy
Some are able to draw conclusions well from a few premisses, and this shows a penetrative intellect.
The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal|Blaise Pascal