perceptive

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adjective

Definition of PERCEPTIVE

1

able to sense slight impressions or differences <due to their ability to rotate their ears, cats are very perceptive when it comes to pinpointing the source of a sound>

Synonyms delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sensitive, sharp

Related Words accurate, clear, discerning, good, piercing, precise, receptive, sensible, subtle; hair-trigger, hyperacute, hypersensitive, oversensitive, supersensitive

Near Antonyms bad, deadened, dimmed, dull, dulled, fading; dead, imperceptive, insensible, insensitive, numb; imprecise, inaccurate

2

having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge <a perceptive therapist was able to discover what was really troubling the youth>

Synonyms discerning, insightful, perceptive, prudent, sagacious, sage, sapient

Related Words acute, penetrating, percipient, perspicacious; experienced; discriminating, discriminative; brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, intelligent, keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, smart; cerebral, erudite, knowledgeable, learned, literate, scholarly; astute, clearheaded, piercing, sharp, shrewd; contemplative, reflective, thoughtful

Near Antonyms dense, dull, obtuse, purblind, woodenheaded; brainless, dumb, feebleminded, foolish, idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), knuckleheaded, moronic, silly, simple, slow, slow-witted, stupid, thoughtless, unintelligent, witless; undiscriminating

Antonyms unperceptive, unwise