incisive

adjective

in·​ci·​sive in-ˈsī-siv 

: impressively direct and decisive (as in manner or presentation)

an incisive analysis

an incisive unsentimental writer

incisively adverb

incisiveness noun

Did you know?

Incisive has meant "impressively direct and decisive" since around 1834 and derives from the Latin verb caedere, meaning "to cut." Its linguistic kin include many cuttings from the fruitful stem caedere, such as scissors, chisel, incise ("to cut into or engrave"), excise ("to remove by cutting"), incisor ("a front tooth typically adapted for cutting"), incision ("cut" or "gash"), precise ("minutely exact"), and concise ("brief"). Incisive also carries a couple of lesser-known literal meanings relating to cutting: "having a cutting edge or piercing point" (as in "incisive fangs"), and, in dentistry, "of, relating to, or situated near the incisors."

Examples of incisive in a Sentence

She's known for her incisive mind and quick wit.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the left-field and more heady spheres of the L.A. underground rap scene, Ill Camille and Vel the Wonder established themselves as formidable and incisive lyricists. —Liz Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Las Mujeres is a grab-bag of pop genre fusions, yet Shakira manages to hold court in every song with her incisive and enduring songcraft. —Suzy Exposito, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024

Good Energy set out to capture that same light-hearted yet incisive quality in measuring climate visibility. —Jaden Thompson, Variety, 1 Mar. 2024

This incisive biography aims to separate the historical Ashoka, who ruled a vast swath of the Indian subcontinent in the third century B.C., from the one of legend. —The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

After growing up in New Jersey, No, 33, spent the better part of the last decade as a harp-playing, folk-strumming songwriting virtuoso singing incisive originals in semi-obscurity. —Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024

As the 2024 Oscar race nears its end, the films in play range from explosive epics to intimate dramas, incisive satires to elegant biopics. —Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024

Thank you, Helene Elliott, for your 45 years of incisive, humanistic and insightful reporting and columns. —Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024

What’s more, his incisive candor elevates theatrical gossip into something more enriching. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1834, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

incisive

adjective

in·​ci·​sive in-ˈsī-siv 

: impressively clear and direct

an incisive argument

incisively adverb

incisiveness noun

Medical Definition

incisive

adjective

in·​ci·​sive in-ˈsī-siv 

: incisal

also : of, relating to, or situated near the incisors