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trenchant

[ tren-chuhnt ]
/ ˈtrɛn tʃənt /
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See synonyms for: trenchant / trenchancy on Thesaurus.com

adjective
incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting: trenchant wit.
vigorous; effective; energetic: a trenchant policy of political reform.
clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.
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Origin of trenchant

1275–1325; Middle English tranchaunt<Anglo-French; Old French trenchant, present participle of trenchier to cut. See trench, -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM trenchant

trench·an·cy, nountrench·ant·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use trenchant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for trenchant

trenchant
/ (ˈtrɛntʃənt) /

adjective
keen or incisivetrenchant criticism
vigorous and effectivea trenchant foreign policy
distinctly defineda trenchant outline
archaic, or poetic sharpa trenchant sword

Derived forms of trenchant

trenchancy, nountrenchantly, adverb

Word Origin for trenchant

C14: from Old French trenchant cutting, from trenchier to cut; see trench
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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