perceptive

[ per-sep-tiv ]

See synonyms for: perceptive perceptively perceptiveness perceptivity on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having or showing keenness of insight, understanding, or intuition: a perceptive analysis of the problems involved.
having the power or faculty of perceiving.

of, relating to, or showing perception.

Origin of perceptive

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

Other words for perceptive

1	discerning, sensitive, keen, astute

See synonyms for perceptive on Thesaurus.com

Other words from perceptive

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

Words that may be confused with perceptive

perceptible, perceptive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use perceptive in a sentence

This is lip-gloss misanthropy packaged as feminist manifesto, clever but not smart, cynical without being perceptive or particularly passionate.
Promising Young Woman Starts with a Cathartic Blast. Then It Gets Bogged Down With Cynicism | Stephanie Zacharek | January 15, 2021 | Time
Clay is a wonderfully protean performer, as you know if you’ve seen her as a hard-bitten autoworker in Dominique Morisseau’s “Skeleton Crew” at Studio Theatre or as the perceptive housekeeper in “The Little Foxes” on Broadway.
Adrienne Kennedy’s new play, ‘Etta and Ella on the Upper West Side,’ is utterly unique | Peter Marks | January 14, 2021 | Washington Post
“Grand Union,” by Zadie SmithSmith’s first short-story collection is a chance to experiment with form and theme, all while employing the perceptive social commentary that has made her a literary success.
October paperback releases: 14 books to read now | Stephanie Merry | October 30, 2020 | Washington Post
It’s eye-opening to listen to a podcast that began in early March, hearing what Rees, Kine and Kimball — three smart, perceptive people — thought was going to happen.
The Election Podcast Trying to Get Everyone to Stop Listening | Fiona Zublin | October 29, 2020 | Ozy
Well, first of all, you just weren’t that perceptive, probably, Stephen.
Forget Everything You Know About Your Dog (Ep. 436) | Stephen J. Dubner | October 22, 2020 | Freakonomics

All this is not Japanese, but from such accident is Japanese art inspired, with its good luck of perceptiveness.
The Colour of Life | Alice Meynell
He was there for health and recreation, but, realizing the situation with his quick perceptiveness, he took up the gage of battle.
The Abolitionists | John F. Hume
But even he, with all his observant perceptiveness, had failed to penetrate Lilith's magnificent self-command.
The Sign of the Spider | Bertram Mitford
He was a quick, slight child, with fine perceptiveness, and a cool transitoriness in his interest.
The Rainbow | D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
This unsophisticated girl did it by an innate perceptiveness that was almost genius.
The Mayor of Casterbridge | Thomas Hardy

British Dictionary definitions for perceptive

perceptive

/ (pəˈsɛptɪv) /

adjective

quick at perceiving; observant
perceptual

able to perceive

Derived forms of perceptive

perceptively, adverb
perceptiveness or perceptivity, 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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