trenchant
adjective
Did you know?
There’s much to know about the word trenchant, but we’ll cut to the chase. The word trenchant comes from the Anglo-French verb trencher, meaning “to cut.” Hence, a trenchant sword is one with a keen edge. Nowadays, trenchant mostly describes things that don’t cut deep literally, but that are still felt: a trenchant remark is one that cuts close to the bone, and a trenchant observation is one that cuts to the heart of the matter. In addition to meaning “caustic” and “sharply perceptive,” trenchant also carries a sense meaning “very strong, clear, and effective” that may be used, for instance, to describe a persuasive essay written with intellectual rigor. If you find yourself forgetting these “edgy” definitions, you might dig up a familiar relative of trenchant: the noun trench, which refers to a long cut or ditch in the ground.
Examples of trenchant in a Sentence
Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2025
Both the author and the narrator succeed notably in this funny, trenchant debut novel.
—Audiofile Magazine
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
Despite Lavrov's trenchant remarks, there may be subtle hints that Putin is ready to do a deal — and that's without knowing what has gone on behind closed doors.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025
Newsweek contacted Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser turned trenchant critic, for comment on Saturday via email outside of regular office hours.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trenchant
Cite this Entry
“Trenchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trenchant. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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trenchant
adjective
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