trenchant

adjective tren·chant \ -chənt \

Definition of trenchant

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

See trenchant defined for English-language learners

See trenchant defined for kids

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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 of trenchant from the Web

Incidentally, the always astute Andy Kessler has a trenchant takedown of cryptocurrencies in Monday’s Wall Street Journal.

— adam lashinsky, Fortune, "Data Sheet—3 Reasons Uber’s New CEO Can Help," 28 Aug. 2017
The [subsequent] scoop marked the beginning of a banner season of political coverage for the Los Angeles publication, not previously known for trenchant campaign correspondence.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Jeff Flake delivers the most courageous conservative rebuttal of Trumpism yet," 2 Aug. 2017
W. Paul Coates founded Black Classic Press, one of the nation’s oldest independent black publishers, in Baltimore; his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates, is one of the most trenchant observers of race in America today.

— david amsden, Smithsonian, "How Baltimore Quietly Became the East Coast’s Next Cool City," 31 July 2017
The military review affords Pryor the opportunity for her most trenchant criticism: that Lincoln was ineffective as a wartime president.

— michael o'donnell, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Six Encounters with Lincoln' challenges America's view of its 16th president," 7 July 2017
Carpenter has built a career as a trenchant singer-songwriter.

— chrissie dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Four Voices is a quartet of greats: Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Amy Ray, Emily Saliers," 8 June 2017
To others, Sidran has extended the grand tradition of the jazz genius Mose Allison—who died last year—in his trenchant and witty ruminations on this often absurd American life.

— ben sidran, The New Yorker, "Ben Sidran," 22 May 2017
What Larry Kramer’s trenchant play (and subsequent film)

— joey nolfi, PEOPLE.com, "Cannes AIDS Drama 120 Beats Per Minute Emerges as Major Palme d'Or Contender," 21 May 2017
Mr. Wolf, a multi-instrumentalist who focuses on the vibraphone, strikes a comfortable balance between stately precision and trenchant swing.

— New York Times, "Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week," 11 May 2017

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

Did You Know?

The word trenchant comes from the Anglo-French verb trencher, meaning "to cut," and may ultimately derive from the Vulgar Latin trinicare, meaning "to cut in three." Hence, a trenchant sword is one with a keen edge; a trenchant remark is one that cuts deep; and a trenchant observation is one that cuts to the heart of the matter. Relatives of trenchant in English include the noun trench ("a long ditch cut into the ground") and the verb retrench ("to cut down or pare away" or "to cut down expenses").