Definition of INSIGHT

Choose the Right Synonym for insight

discernment, discrimination, perception, penetration, insight, acumen mean a power to see what is not evident to the average mind. discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art). the discernment to know true friends discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent. the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling). a novelist of keen perception into human motives penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial. lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy. a documentary providing insight into the plight of the homeless acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment. a director of reliable box-office acumen

Examples of insight in a Sentence

… I had a big insight and a little insight about the book. — Rust Hills, Esquire, April 1973 … realizing this gave me no insight into how to correct it. — Bartley McSwine, Change, May–June 1971 … might well offer fresh insights as to the character and extent of the social adaptation involved. — George C. Barker, ETC, Summer 1945 He is a leader of great insight. The author analyzes the problem with remarkable insight. I had a sudden insight. Her book provides us with fresh new insights into this behavior.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Ableton Live Mastery Bundle includes ten courses and over 22 hours of insight. — Popular Mechanics, "Learn How to Produce Pro-Level Music for Under $30," 31 Jan. 2019 This relieving bit of insight comes to us from a paper published this past year in the journal Psychological Science. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "7 bad science and health ideas that should die with 2018," 26 Dec. 2018 The latest snippet of insight into her motherhood came from Serena’s latest Instagram post, which featured a seriously adorable photo of her and daughter Olympia, hanging out together on set for her somewhat controversial GQ cover photoshoot. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Serena Williams and Daughter Olympia are the Sweetest Pair on Their Joint Fashion Photoshoot," 22 Nov. 2018 The perpetrators of mass shootings often provide a treasure trove of insight into their violent tendencies, but the information is not always seen by law enforcement until after the violence is carried out. — Lisa Marie Pane, The Seattle Times, "Online rants by would-be shooters create dilemma for police," 30 Oct. 2018 The Catcher in the Rye is such a special book, and the insight into Holden’s mind is fascinating. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Penélope Cruz Shares Who (And What) Has a Special Place in Her Heart," 17 Jan. 2019 Some insight came from India, where the NGO Pratham had pioneered and scaled a remedial education approach known as Teaching at the Right Level. — Meagan Neal, Vox, "It’s hard to design good policies. This simple idea can help governments do it.," 21 Dec. 2018 And then, based on that insight, comes up with rules in consultation with industry that give the highest probability for a safe advent of AI. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Full Q&A: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Recode Decode," 2 Nov. 2018 Ultimately, this insight can help strengthen your professional or creative choices — and what lion wouldn’t want that. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "What September's Leo Horoscope Means for You," 30 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.