- cutting into
- sharp; keen; penetrating; acute: an incisive mind
- of the incisors
Origin of incisive
Medieval Latin incisivus from Classical Latin incisus: see incise
adjective
The definition of incisive is someone or something accurate, clear thinking or well focused.
An owner of a successful new restaurant who is smart, thinks clearly and sees things clearly is an example of someone who would be described as incisive.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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incisive. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive
incisive
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"incisive." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive>.
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incisive. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive
incisive
adjective
Penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression: an incisive mind; incisive comments.
Related Forms:
- in·ci′sive·ly
adverb
- in·ci′sive·ness
noun
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"incisive." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive>.
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incisive. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive
incisive
incisive trenchant biting cutting crisp
These adjectives refer to keenness and forcefulness of thought, expression, or intellect. Incisive and trenchant suggest penetration to the heart of a subject and clear, sharp, and vigorous expression: an incisive report; trenchant wit. Biting and cutting often have a sarcastic or sardonic quality capable of wounding or stinging: “Biting remarks revealed her attitude of contempt” (D.H. Lawrence). “He can say the driest, most cutting things in the quietest of tones” (Charlotte Brontë). Crisp suggests clarity, conciseness, and briskness: a crisp retort.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"incisive." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive>.
APA Style
incisive. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive
Adjective
(comparative more incisive, superlative most incisive)
- Quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression; decisive; forthright.
- An incisive producer, who expressed vehement disapproval with my pitch upon my first sentence.
- Intelligently analytical and concise.
- Having the quality of incising, cutting, or penetrating, as with a sharp instrument; sharp; acute; sarcastic; biting.
- (anatomy) Of or relating to the incisors.
- the incisive bones, the premaxillaries
Origin
From Middle French incisif
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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MLA Style
"incisive." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive>.
APA Style
incisive. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Incisive
