trenchant

adjective

tren·​chant ˈtren-chənt 

1

: keen, sharp

2

: vigorously effective and articulate

a trenchant analysis

also : caustic

trenchant remarks

3

a

: sharply perceptive : penetrating

a trenchant view of current conditions

b

: clear-cut, distinct

the trenchant divisions between right and wrong

—Edith Wharton

trenchantly adverb

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.

Synonyms

• cutting
• edged
• edgy
• ground
• honed
• keen
• sharp
• sharpened
• stropped
• whetted

Examples of trenchant in a Sentence

a writer with a trenchant wit

even the most trenchant sword could not sever the bonds of loyalty between them

Recent Examples on the Web

Burnham was one of the earliest YouTube stars and later a trenchant critic of such fame. —Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 13 May 2024

As Reign spent late nights scrolling through mood-setting memes, innovative hashtags, and trenchant 140-character commentaries, hanging out on Black Twitter started to feel like being at a family cookout. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English trenchaunt, from Anglo-French, present participle of trencher

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

trenchant

adjective

tren·​chant ˈtren-chənt 

1

: having a sharp edge or point : cutting

2

: sharply perceptive : penetrating

a trenchant view of the situation

3

: forceful and effective in expressing ideas

a trenchant analysis

trenchantly adverb